Healthy Eating For Kids
Storyberries offers free children's books and parenting suggestions for encouraging children to nurture a healthy body, and to care about the food they consume
Encouraging children to nurture a healthy body, and to care about the food they consume
Providing opportunities for a good diet and positive eating habits both at school and at home, encouraging a healthy attitude towards food, our bodies and the planet, and providing the nutrients required for healthy growth.
When is the best time to start?
The key to raising a well-nourished young person is creating healthy habits from an early age. This can be done from when kids are very young by modelling healthy eating ourselves, by making mealtimes fun and enjoyable, and by offering a variety of well balanced, nutritious food.
How can I best help my kids develop healthy habits around eating?
Please read on. Storyberries offers free children’s books and parenting suggestions on the topic of healthy eating:
Making it easy for kids to choose healthy food
We can do this by giving suggestions on which foods to choose, instead of imposing them, and having a wide variety of healthy foods available.
Eating mindfully
Encouraging children to eat slowly. Children can tell if they are hungry or full more easily when they eat slowly.
Making meal times sociable and enjoyable
Eating as a family whenever possible and making mealtimes a pleasant time for conversation and dialogue, not for quarrels and arguments.
Getting the kids involved!
Involve children in buying and preparing food, so they take responsibility and pleasure in caring for themselves and others.
Scheduling specific snack times.
Taking snacks continuously can lead to overeating. However, snacks that are consumed at certain times of the day can be part of a nutritious diet, without affecting the child’s appetite at mealtimes
Separating mealtimes and media times
Avoid eating or having snacks while watching TV. Instead try to eat in designated areas of the house, such as in the dining room or kitchen.
Increase water and reduce sugar
Encourage children to drink plenty of water. Good hydration is key to so many aspects of health. Excessive consumption of sugary and carbonated drinks has been linked to an increase in children’s obesity, so try to keep sugar consumption at a healthy level.
Being mindful of the associations we make with food
For example, try not to use food to punish or reward. Denying meals as a form of punishment can make children fear they are not getting enough food. Instead, encourage children to see themselves and the food they eat as part of a loving, sharing world
Being aware of what we’re consuming at home and away
Checking the meals we eat regularly outside the home are also balanced. Paying attention to the quantity of the servings and the ingredients – read food labels and limit foods with trans fats. Also being sure to serve the proper size servings as indicated on the label.
Some Free Books About Healthy Eating at Storyberries
The Boy Who Only Ate Pancakes
Rekai only wants to eat pancakes! Read this delightful story to find out how Rekai discovers his love of vegetables. There is even a special recipe at the end!
Bastien’s Apple Salad
Bastien loves to get involved in the kitchen! Join him and his family in this wonderful story as he tries out lots of different mixtures – including some really crazy ones! – and then makes everyone happy with his delicious apple salad!
Mama, What’s For Lunch?
Thabo and Thumi love their mama’s cooking! A beautifully illustrated book that’s sure to encourage kids to talk about food, and the new things they would like to try.
Article by Luzmery M. Romero Gamboa and Fleur Rodgers
Luzmery works in the area of clinical psychology as a psychotherapist for children, adolescents and families. Since 2016, she has run a Psychological Center in Venezuela called Psicoluz. She offers workshop facilitations to parents, is involved in recreational activities for children, and has been working as a freelancer since 2017 performing online psychotherapy.
Fleur is a meditation teacher in France and uses a compassion and loving-kindness based approach to meditation and slow-minded living. Fleur posts regularly to Instagram @rodgers.fleur . She has two children, is a qualified teacher in adult education and is the founder of Timeouttobreathe.com