Healthy Eating for Kids: Be a Good Role Model

It's simple. Children learn by watching you and they want to be just like you. You can't expect to raise a child who eats healthy foods if you don't eat them yourself. Here are some tips to help you become a role model of healthy eating:


Keep fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat.

Select lean meats and low-fat proteins, such as eggs, nuts, tofu, and beans.

Avoid deep-fried foods. Healthier cooking styles include broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming.

Limit how much processed food you eat. As a rule, buy products that have common ingredients found in your kitchen, not in the chemistry lab. Avoid buying frozen or canned entrees (such as TV dinners, pasta in a can, etc.)

Make fast food and junk food "once-in-a-while" foods. These foods are very high in fat, salt, and calories. They're just not healthy to eat all the time.

Don't keep soda or sugary drinks in your house. Limit the amount of 100% real fruit juice your kids drink, too.

Be Positive! As a first step, talk about how good healthy foods are. Let your child know what foods you are eating and how important they are to growing stronger and bigger. This information can help your toddler understand how important it is to choose healthy foods.

-- Copyright 2009. Excerpted from So Easy Toddler Food: Survival Tips and Simple Recipes for the Toddler Years, by Cheryl Tallman, www.FreshBaby.com