As a parent you obviously want that your child should not only eat healthy, but also that he or she develops healthy eating habits that last them a lifetime. It is important to give a healthy start to your child because healthy eating helps a child grow and develop optimally, it keep the weight within normal ranges, prevents disease and helps shore up immunity.
To get your child to eat a balanced diet, it is important to follow certain general practices and make these routine – in any case, parents know that very strict diets will not really work for kids who can chafe against too much regulation:
Varied foods
It is important to get a child used to a variety of different foods so that the diet also contains a variety of different nutrients. So keep introducing new foods – mix it up, so that your child doesn’t get set in eating only a few favorites. Give it a buildup when you try a new food in the house, so that the child is inclined to be interested in trying it out.
Fresh produce
To the extent possible, concentrate on including fresh produce including lean meats, dairy, fruits and veggies. Avoid canned or readymade packaged food which tends to be low in nutrition and high in salt, preservatives, fat and sugar.
Shop smart
Make a list of healthy produce to buy and concentrate on those areas of the supermarket while avoiding the snacks and packaged foods aisles. Take your kids along, and get them involved in shopping while explaining the nutritional value of foods to them.
Don’t introduce your child to unhealthy beverages
There is no reason in the world why your child should ever have a soda. Just don’t introduce your child to it. There is a good chance that if there is none of the stuff at home, your child won’t develop a taste for it and will not want to go out and have it either.
The right balance of protein and healthy carbs
The idea is to get your child to have plenty of healthy protein that comes from lean meat, eggs, fish and dairy products. Proteins are the building blocks of the body and a growing child needs plenty of this. Also give kids lots of healthy complex carbs from whole grains, fruits and veggies which will help in proper development of the brain and also give a child sustained release of energy.