For our young children in particular, it seems as if nutrition doesn’t matter at all. Be it the beloved burgers, fries or cola in rough masses, everything that is greasy and sugary is most welcome. But the problem is clear: Although the calories necessary during growth are supplied, this is unfortunately all too often in absolute excess. And something else is missing: nutrients. Fast food and the like simply contain too few vitamins and minerals.
Therefore, the big question is always: How do I feed my child properly? Quite simply, you are the role model. In the earliest childhood of your offspring, you lay the foundations for a healthy and therefore beneficial eating behavior. The following points are important:
- Mealtime should be a good time when the whole family enjoys simply being together and where, of course, there is no grumbling about the food.
- Eating should never become a chore! Every child is done eating when they are full. Never force your child to eat empty. These are absolutely harmful parenting techniques, which will cause children to become severely food disordered later on.
- Please do not use food as a reward. And not in any form. Neither the favorite pizza for a grade one nor an ice cream. Food as a reward raises your children to become people with severe eating disorders and leads to constant weight gain.
- The other way around is just as true. If your offspring is very lazy, it obviously makes no sense to then “reward” them for their laziness with fries and burgers as well.
Again, you are the role model. Set a good example and eat well. You can’t forbid your children to eat fast food if you’ve been eating Mäckes and Co yourself for a long time.
Also make sure that only healthy food is stored in your cupboards. This is especially true for the freezer. The quick reach for the frozen pizza is quickly made, but educates to wrong nutritional behavior. In general, as with everything, communication is everything. Healthy nutrition starts at a young age, when people should already be talking about how important and sensible healthy eating is. Then there will be far fewer problems later in life.
Young people in particular like to counter with the argument that other children are often allowed to eat pizza and cola. But please do not let this impress you. Because what is true for others does not necessarily have to be true for you. Your offspring should also understand this at an early stage. Because there should be no negative discussions, especially when it comes to nutrition. Explain to your child at an early age that practically all ready-made products contain hardly any nutrients.
It is logical that only fresh foods also contain the natural nutrients. It takes more time to cook healthy, but it is simply good for the whole family! Walk through the supermarket with your child. Show them practical examples of how many nutrients are really contained in the products advertised. It will see in such a way even that many promises are smooth lies. Practically illustrated, it believes you naturally also. So it is not enough to succinctly explain: “This is not healthy for you”. A child believes what it sees.
Of course, it is clear that often there is really little time for long cooking. Everyday life is exhausting, regardless of whether both parents work or whether a large family simply leaves little time. But, for healthy cooking must simply be time! Just work together with your children when cooking! Peel and cut vegetables, that can be done together. Likewise, just, especially in the warmer temperatures, a nice fruit salad is enough. Nobody tells us that there is no time for that. It is fast, the preparation is fun and who eats healthy is anyway fitter and has so more power. So, for the whole family applies: Eat healthy, so you are powerful and the children are optimally supplied with nutrients, which of course again affects good learning success!