Family Food Strategies For Better Health Management
Everyone knows diet is essential in maintaining one’s health, yet one third of our nation is overweight or obese. This is a serious issue and eating healthy foods should be begun early and maintained.
The first step is for families to educate themselves on nutrition and diet. If you cannot afford a consultation with a nutritionist, read magazines or online diet and health articles. Parents set examples for their children so it is up to them to eat right and show the children that is it fun and healthy to do so. Allow children to participate, if old enough, in making healthy meals. They can wash & tear lettuce and other vegetables to make salads. Let them pick out a bean variety to add. Stick to fish, chicken or meatless.
Eliminate sugar and salt laden foods. Do not keep commercially available foods with little nutritional value in the house. If it’s not there, they won’t eat it. This especially means soda. Soda is one of the worst foods with no nutritional value, and empty calories. Use water, flavored seltzer or unsweetened iced tea instead.
Providing healthy alternatives in the home and setting a good eating example will last a lifetime.