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Forcing kids into anything will not always work in our favor. They may listen to you to a certain extent but nothing beyond it. More importantly, if you constantly scold or intimidate children when it comes to food, you are creating a negative notion of food and nutrition in their minds. It is important that you teach your kids to enjoy their food, keeping the child nutrition chart in mind.
There are some ways in which you can create a healthy relationship with your children.
- Create a healthy eating environment: Limit the gadgets at the dinner table and ensure that all members of the house are talking to each other. This will put all the focus on the food that is in front of everyone. This is an irrevocable rule that has to be followed by all. Ensure that the elderly members of the family are being respectfulof the food and the way it has been made. Children pick up on the mannerisms of others around them. It does not have to be a performance; it needs to be natural.
- Serve the right portions of food: Even though you want your kids to eat every possible thing so that they have a lot of energy. However, most children do not end up eating everything on their plates. It is important to give them smaller portions to ensure that they are finishing everything on their plate. You can always give them some leftovers and snacks in between meals. This also means that you will have to give them a smaller portion of their meals. This will allow them to eat much better and feel more in control.
- Have patience: Try to avoid the drama that comes with food timings. The more you scream or scold them, the more they will not eat particular foods well. They will psychologically create an aversion for them. More importantly, it is okay for your kids to have some aversions; we all do. Just because they are kids, they do not always have to listen to every command. It is okay if they do not like a vegetable or two. You do not have to be extremely strict when it comes to food. You will quickly realize that it is not an effective strategy.
- Include your children in food preparation: Even if you are making your child simply stir a bowl of vegetables or batter, they will feel like an important part of the cooking process. It will not only be a great booster for their self-confidence, but they will also learn to respect food more as they will know the kind of effort that goes into having a plate full of food any which way.
Conclusion:
These are just some common tips that are used by parents across the world. They have proven to show results for not just toddlers but even teenagers. Try them out and ease your children onto the road of healthy eating.