Soar Tips

Establishing healthy eating habits during childhood have lifetime benefits. Follow these tips to help your children SOAR into healthy eating habits.

10 Tips to Promote Healthy Eating

• Make mealtime a family a priority. Children need the structure of meal and snack times. Also, families who eat meals together, eat healthier foods and consume more fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid pressuring your child to eat certain foods. Children like foods less if they are forced to eat them.
• Avoid overwhelming your child with large portions. Start with small portion sizes and allow them to ask for more.
• Serve new foods along with familiar foods that your child enjoys. Remember it can take up to ten or more times before a child will try a new food.
• Let your child decide when they are full. Don't force your child to "clean their plate". This can lead to children ignoring the feeling of fullness and eating when they are no longer hungry.
• Model the habits you want your child to develop. Children will want to eat what they see those around them eating. Make sure to eat a variety of healthy foods yourself, so you are setting a good example for your children to follow.
• Do not use food as a reward or punishment. Teach your child that food is for their body's nourishment not something good or bad.
• Be aware of the amount of juice and juice flavored drinks your child consumes. These drinks especially when consumed close to meal time can fill-up children's stomachs and not leave room for healthy foods at mealtime.
• Turn off the TV at mealtime. Eating without background noise allows children to focus on the meal and not be distracted.
• Let your children help prepare the meal or set the table. Children are more likely to try foods they have helped prepare.