Highlights
● To discourage addiction towards junk food, create a habit of eating healthy in the house
● Involve your kids in the kitchen and in meal-prepping activities
● Always keep healthy snacks handy so that your kids don’t eat nutritionally-deficient food
In these modern times, when junk food has become so easily accessible, it’s become very difficult to keep nutritional discipline. But as parents, it’s your responsibility to develop good eating habits that will serve your kids in the future. While it might not be possible to completely get rid of junk food from your kid’s life, but there are a few ways in which you can wean your child off unhealthy food.
1. Start young and keep at it
Permanent habits are made when kids are young. Introduce fresh fruits and vegetables to them when they’re young. To keep the kids interested, try new and fun recipes from time to time.
2. Involve them in the kitchen
Kids are more likely to eat something they’ve cooked, hence including them in the kitchen is a good way to get them to eat healthy. Let them whip or stir, measure or pour, set the table- whatever you think is appropriate for their age.
3. Keep healthy snacks handy
Kids are most vulnerable when hungry. They need food instantly and whine and crib if they don’t. For such situations, keep something healthy and nourishing snack handy. Be firm about what you offer.
4. Swap the junk with healthy alternatives
Your kids will ask for chips and fries someday. If you refuse it, it will only increase their curiosity and make them have junk food behind your back. To avoid such a situation, explain what bad junk food is going to do to their body. Swap fries with homemade fries, chips with bananas chips or baked chips.
For more parenting tips, talk to a Jiva doctor. Dial 0129-4040404 or click on ‘Speak to a Doctor’ under the CONNECT tab in Jiva Health App.