The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) promotes a healthy lifestyle of eating five portions of fruits & veggies each day.5 A day is a slogan that sounds great, but how can we actually integrate this into a child's life?
Imagine a day in a child's life - from their waking moment to the time they close their eyes to sleep. Besides the CDC's 5 A Day program, I don't know anyone else speaking about healthy eating for children. I don't hear any radio commercials about a healthy diet for children or fruits and vegetables as part of their daily nutrition. 5 A Day is a CDC slogan that in reality is very impractical to incorporate into our lives.
From the start, pregnant moms often forget to eat a healthy diet in favor of what's most "convenient". But getting your children started eating right begins in the womb. If babies experience healthy foods in utero and at the breast, they'll be more likely to want them later in their lives too. And not only that, children who are fed right from the beginning will be healthier and stronger throughout their lives.
We all know how important fruits and vegetables are, especially for the children we're raising, but it can be so hard to make them a priority. Children follow their parents' example. Starting putting your health, and that of your children, before what's "easy" and your kids will soon too.
A balanced meal through mother's milk would support a stronger immunesystem and minimize doctor visits and illnesses. Eating healthy meals in this way builds children's immune systems before birth, but also gives children the ability to accept healthier meals after birth.
Having kids is hard. It changes our lives in so many ways. Instead of keeping healthy eating a priority, it is something that falls by the wayside for so many busy families. We seem to forget how important healthy eating really is - for ourselves and our children.
It's so much easier to eat on the go. Picking something ready-made up at the grocery store, the neighborhood place or the local fast food joint just makes sense, right? But what about the negative impact that kind of food has on us, on our children? We conveniently forget that, instead opting for what's easiest.
So what solutions are available to us? First, although it is often hard to cook meals regularly, we need to recognize the importance of doing it anyway. Fixing a good healthy meal at home puts the control in our hands and enables us to give our kids the 5 A Day they need. Take an inventory of all the things you choose to do rather than eat at home. You may be able to find a way to make some time - for the good of your family.
Another way to keep 5 A Day a reality for your family is to be intentional about limiting your bad habits. Cut out the fast foods. Stop doing what's convenient and instead do what's best. Opt for healthy snacks. Even with two busy parents, it's hard to keep track of what the kids may be eating. But if the options you provide are healthy, you and your kids will be in much better shape.
If we can't incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives, we are going to have a very difficult time repairing all the damage caused by our actions. Fruits and veggies play a big role in keeping our bodies' cells healthy and in neutralizing the free radicals in our bodies. 5 A Day should not just be a slogan, it is a fact. Making five servings of fruits and vegetable a regular part of our lives leads to healthier parents, children, and families.
Imagine a day in a child's life - from their waking moment to the time they close their eyes to sleep. Besides the CDC's 5 A Day program, I don't know anyone else speaking about healthy eating for children. I don't hear any radio commercials about a healthy diet for children or fruits and vegetables as part of their daily nutrition. 5 A Day is a CDC slogan that in reality is very impractical to incorporate into our lives.
From the start, pregnant moms often forget to eat a healthy diet in favor of what's most "convenient". But getting your children started eating right begins in the womb. If babies experience healthy foods in utero and at the breast, they'll be more likely to want them later in their lives too. And not only that, children who are fed right from the beginning will be healthier and stronger throughout their lives.
We all know how important fruits and vegetables are, especially for the children we're raising, but it can be so hard to make them a priority. Children follow their parents' example. Starting putting your health, and that of your children, before what's "easy" and your kids will soon too.
A balanced meal through mother's milk would support a stronger immunesystem and minimize doctor visits and illnesses. Eating healthy meals in this way builds children's immune systems before birth, but also gives children the ability to accept healthier meals after birth.
Having kids is hard. It changes our lives in so many ways. Instead of keeping healthy eating a priority, it is something that falls by the wayside for so many busy families. We seem to forget how important healthy eating really is - for ourselves and our children.
It's so much easier to eat on the go. Picking something ready-made up at the grocery store, the neighborhood place or the local fast food joint just makes sense, right? But what about the negative impact that kind of food has on us, on our children? We conveniently forget that, instead opting for what's easiest.
So what solutions are available to us? First, although it is often hard to cook meals regularly, we need to recognize the importance of doing it anyway. Fixing a good healthy meal at home puts the control in our hands and enables us to give our kids the 5 A Day they need. Take an inventory of all the things you choose to do rather than eat at home. You may be able to find a way to make some time - for the good of your family.
Another way to keep 5 A Day a reality for your family is to be intentional about limiting your bad habits. Cut out the fast foods. Stop doing what's convenient and instead do what's best. Opt for healthy snacks. Even with two busy parents, it's hard to keep track of what the kids may be eating. But if the options you provide are healthy, you and your kids will be in much better shape.
If we can't incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives, we are going to have a very difficult time repairing all the damage caused by our actions. Fruits and veggies play a big role in keeping our bodies' cells healthy and in neutralizing the free radicals in our bodies. 5 A Day should not just be a slogan, it is a fact. Making five servings of fruits and vegetable a regular part of our lives leads to healthier parents, children, and families.
About the Author:
Tony Khatemi is a Vegetarian with over 25 years in the field of exercise, nutrition and healthy living focused on digestive health. Living by example is his motto. Pickup a free reports on fruits and vegetable capsules . for the most natural and effective supplements in the world. Please type IBD, IBS, Crohn's or any GIIBD, IBS, Crohn's or any GI related disease in the search box for results.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment