FORBES LIVING FALL
2020
A New Spin on...
Parenting
Teaching young kids about nutrition
S
by Daphne Taylor Street
ome kids love to try all kinds of foods, while others prefer to stick to the basics. When it comes to teaching your young children about nutrition, however, nothing is more powerful than the parents taking charge.
Modeling is one critical activity where parents liter-
ally model good nutritional habits so that their young children see them enjoying healthy meals and snacks. Children learn quickly through observation and mimicking, and what children see their parents doing is a bold signal to the children telling them what is "normal" and "preferred" in the family.
Activities that include discussion about healthy foods
and nutrition are also a great way to enforce good nutrition and eating habits with young children. Teach them about seasonal fruits and vegetables in the market, and encourage them to select and try new produce that interests them. Also, even if they are too young to read, start early-on reading nutrition labels to them and maybe expalin that if ingredients are too difficult to pronounce, they usually aren't good for you. PAGE
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TEACH YOUR KIDS EARLY ABOUT GOOD NUTRITION
