Parent's Roles

Parents play a large role when it comes to what their child eats, especially with young children. It is most often the parents who decide what brand of cereal is placed on the breakfast table in the morning, and whether or not fast food will be on the menu for dinner. Encouraging healthy eating from a young age is the most effective way to instill good eating habits in children, habits that they can then take with them when they’re going through the lunch line at school.

Though it is not right for schools to offer innutritious foods to children, it is not their fault if the child selects an unhealthy meal when provided with a healthy alternative. Establishing an awareness of what makes up a healthy meal at home will provide your child with knowledge that will last them a lifetime. Eventually, if enough students begin selecting only healthy foods in the lunch line, junk food will be discontinued due to lack on interest.

Below are some simple tips from the Weight Control Information Network on how parents can improve their child’s diet.

• Give your child a snack or two in addition to his or her three daily meals.
• Offer your child a wide variety of foods, such as grains, vegetables and fruits, low-fat dairy products, and lean meat or beans.
• Serve snacks like dried fruit, low-fat yogurt, and air-popped popcorn.
• Cook with less fat—bake, roast, or poach foods instead of frying.
• Choose and prepare foods with less salt. Keep the salt shaker off the table. Have fruits and vegetables on hand for snacks instead of salty snack foods.
• Involve your child in planning and preparing meals. Children may be more willing to eat the dishes they help fix.
• Have family meals together and serve everyone the same thing.
• Do not be too strict. In small amounts, sweets or food from fast-food restaurants can still have a place in a healthy diet.