Proper Eating Habits Vs Healthy Food Choices: What Works Better?

One of the toughest challenges as a parent is teaching kids proper eating habits. A parent just wants the child to get the most nutrients out of the food she eats but that right there is the problem as we should focus more on habits instead of watching out for the nutrients that enter the body.

Thanks to Dr. Dina Rose, author of "It's Not About the Broccoli: Three Habits to Teach Your Kids for a Lifetime of Healthy Eating," she has introduced three sure ways to get kids to eat healthier, according to Super Healthy Kids. She emphasizes in developing children's eating habits instead of focusing on the nutrients.

"In order to get kids to eat the way you want them to do, you have to move away from the nutrition mindset," Dr. Rose said. "Parents who focus tightly on nutrition often inadvertently teach their children bad eating habits," she adds.

When parents use the dessert to encourage their children to finish their broccoli, it actually does the opposite and makes children realize how they would rather NOT eat their vegetables. According to her book, there are only three things that you need to teach them better eating habits: proportion, variety, and moderation.

Proportion

Teach them how to eat more grains, fruits, and vegetables. And when she says teaching, she means leading by example having lots of these kinds of foods present in the kitchen. Eliminate the chocolates and candies or only buy the ones that come in bite-size portions.

Variety

Try different foods and avoid the common "kid friendly" choices. Introduce all kinds of food to kids including the kind of food you may not eat yourself. Give them the option to spit it out if they don't like it. Sometimes it could take 10-15 attempts to get children to like the taste of certain foods.

Moderation

This means getting children to eat at the right time. Avoid giving them food when you know they're just bored or as a way to get some quiet time. Stick to an eating time zone where they get to eat real meals three times a day but can eat certain snacks in between.

If you notice your child starting to adopt these new habits, always remember to give praise. This process takes some time and is a gradual one so be patient but allow it to bring out your creativity in the kitchen.