NO to green food, NO to sandwiches cut into rectangles (but YES to food cut into triangles), texture too lumpy, texture too crunchy, only eating oranges for an entire week… sound familiar, parents?
It is very common for kids to be picky eaters, especially the very young. As easy it is to just give in and let them dine out on a bowl of chocolate cereal for dinner, these early formative years are arguably the most crucial time for them to eat healthily in order to provide their bodies with the correct nutrients and vitamins for optimum physical and intellectual development.
Starting early with good eating habits is also a preventive measure for short-term health issues such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies, obesity and eating disorders – all of which can turn into long-term problems. However, these can be prevented by making the right dietary choices both at home and at a school like the Integrated International School which can help reinforce healthy eating habits.
We know mealtimes can be a challenge, so here are a few tips that will hopefully put your kiddo on a green path to healthy eating!
See where food comes from
Often, a dislike for certain foods such as vegetables, fruits, or milk can also stem from a disinterest in the particular food group. All fresh food is readily available at the supermarket, neatly packaged and arranged on shelves. Rarely do children get the chance to see and experience firsthand where their food really comes from. School excursions or small trips can be good opportunities to bring children to vegetable or dairy farms to learn about the interesting processes that go into their neatly packaged produce on supermarket shelves. For example, going to a hydroponics vegetable farm can show children the role of technology in producing their fresh food, or seeing mushrooms being grown in the dark could be very intriguing for those just starting to learn about plant groups in science class!
Grow it at home
Nothing gets kids going like a little hands-on work and activity - a good change from sitting at their desks all day! Another engaging activity to carry out with school children is to have them grow their own fruit or vegetables as a tool to facilitate learning and interest in healthy fruits and vegetables. Use a small grassy outdoor area, or even a pot of soil in the classroom, to grow some low-maintenance vegetables or herbs. This could be turned into a long-term project for the students to track the growth of their plant, and a chance for them to flex their responsibility muscles - taking turns to water, weed and fertilise their own garden patch. Having put time and effort into growing the plant, they will certainly get a thrill from harvesting and eating the fresh produce of their efforts.
Read about it and stay informed
Information about healthy eating can also be incorporated into the curriculum in a fun and exciting way. For example, teachers can help students learn about the metric measuring system in math by analysing food nutritional labels, and seeing which product falls the closest to the approved healthy eating guidelines. For older students, teachers can organize a debate during an English lesson about which food might be the healthiest. Extracurricular activities such as a food and nutritional cooking club can also be set up for students to learn first-hand how to create their own healthy meals, and realise that healthy does not always mean yucky. The possibilities are endless!
Healthy eating starts at home
And last, but certainly not least, don’t forget your power as parents! Parents can have a huge influence over their child’s dietary choices in terms of what they eat at home and what they pack to school for lunch. Many who work look for quick food alternatives to satisfy picky eaters, not all of which are healthy options. Schools and parents can partner on healthy eating initiatives through a school newsletter which includes easy and healthy recipes to try out at home. Another option is to organise informative parent talks about healthy eating.
Building the foundation for wellbeing starts with what you nourish your body with. As children spend a significant amount of their most important formative years in school, creating an environment and curriculum that teaches them HOW, and more importantly, WHY they should make better food choices, can go a long way in building a healthy body and mind.
Brought To You By Integrated Internationl School IIS
