For many people, the fact of eating as a family goes unnoticed, but what they do not know is that it is an ideal way to improve communication between parents and children and, at the same time, it is a perfect method to educate the little ones. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, doing some moderate exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle are values that must be transmitted in the family nucleus. Here we explain how to improve your family”s diet. Make the little ones follow the example of the older ones to help them eat a good diet, grow stronger and healthier and avoid contracting some diseases. You will notice the difference!
Steps to follow:
1. Avoid buying per-cooked food. Buying frozen food or consuming too much junk food (hamburgers, pizza, pasta …) will not help your little ones grow up healthy, since these types of foods are high in fat and calories, which will not help the development of children and big.
2. Bet on homemade food and cook with fresh food. All of them will be healthier for the diet of all members of the family. In addition, homemade dishes are richer, lower in salt and calories. Remember: it is one thing to go out to dinner or to eat out occasionally, and another to get used to always eating ready-made dishes with high protein, caloric and fat content.
3. The kitchen is a means of communication and development. If you find it difficult to carry out activities with the little ones in the house or you do not have time, the kitchen is an ideal place to be able to involve them in cleaning and taking care of the house, as well as to acquire responsibilities. In addition, it will be a very fun way that will help them feel like trying what they have cooked themselves. Use pedagogy and make cooking and eating a pleasant and satisfying game.
4. Essential fruits and vegetables. In any healthy and balanced diet, these two products must have a strong presence. Use your imagination so that the little ones agree to try green foods and find a taste for them. If you make them actively participate in the preparation, are creative and include other ingredients to the dishes, you will ensure that the most reluctant end up discovering the pleasure of eating green. Breakfast or snack time is the perfect times to have fruits, which will help make the most important meal of the day even healthier and more nutritious. In the following article you can see what to do if your child does not want to eat vegetables.
5. On the other hand, actively involving the little ones in the whole process will help you to know their tastes and to propose other new flavors that they should discover. With a little psychology, you can make your children feel important and they will feel that their opinion counts. Take them shopping and let them participate in choosing some products in exchange for them to try others that cost more. In this way, they will not feel that food is an obligation, but a pleasure.
6. Eating as a family is very important. Many families usually do it at dinner time and take the opportunity to catch up and find out how the day has gone, both for the young and old. Sharing food with loved ones will help increase everyone”s self-esteem, as well as strengthen the family nucleus. These are perfect times to learn more about parents and children and share moments, experiences and daily anecdotes.
7. Lastly, encourage exercise after your meal. Once they have finished, make sure everyone takes responsibility and collect their dishes. Afterwards, they can finish the meal with a pleasant walk that helps to maintain vital activity in a space where, in addition to burning calories, you can also promote family communication.