Healthy Eating Starts at Home

 

Getting kids to make healthy food choices can be tough. The following suggestions can help put your family on the road to healthy eating.

 

·         Use positive messages. Let kids know there are no good or bad foods; everything can be eaten in moderation.  Encourage them to choose most foods from the four food groups in Canada's Food Guide

 

·         Be a good role model. Children are strongly influenced by their parents eating habits and attitudes towards food. If they see you eating healthy foods, they will likely follow suit

 

·         Make healthy eating easy. Keep "ready to eat" healthy foods on hand for when hunger strikes 

 

·         Involve children in planning meals, preparing breakfast, packing lunches, and selecting snacks. Use this as an opportunity to talk about healthy choices

 

·         Set "nutrition ground rules" so children know what to expect. For example, everyone in the family eats breakfast, milk is the beverage served with meals, after school snacks come from the four food groups

 

Below are Some Answers to Commonly Asked Questions about Feeding Your School-Age Child:

 

1.       Does my child need a vitamin pill?

2.       Should my child be on a low fat diet?

3.       What do I do with all the Halloween candy?

4.       Does sugar really make my child hyperactive?

5.       Are our kids drinking too much pop?

6.       What's the difference between fruit juice and fruit drinks?

7.       Is it ok for my child to drink energy drinks

8.       How do I get my child to eat more fruit and vegetables?

9.       Do children need sports drinks?

 

For more information about feeding children and /or specific nutrient requirements for children call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102 to speak to a registered dietitian.

 

 

Does Your Child's School Support Healthy Eating?

 

Are healthy food choices offered for school celebrations, or during 'special food' days?  If not, you may want to speak to your principal about improving the nutrition environment.  A healthy school nutrition environment exists when a school promotes healthy eating through words and actions. Students get the same message about food, nutrition and healthy eating wherever food is served – in the classroom, in the school and at the home. 

 

A complete listing of all fact sheets and resources on nutrition and school-age children is available on the Nutrition Services Fact Sheet web page. For more information on nutrition and school-age children visit Eat Right Ontario.

 

External Links:

 

Elementary Healthy Schools Program

Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide

Eat Right Be Active

Parent School Newsletter Inserts

 

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