Healthful Eating
Many of today’s families are constantly on the go. Therefore, finding time for family style meals that are also healthy can be a difficult task. To assure that families, especially children, eat healthy there are some very simple steps that parents can take. Studies have shown that taking these steps to promote healthful eating habits in children can have long lasting benefits. “Some past studies have suggested that when parents and children regularly connect over dinner, children are less likely to take up habits like smoking and drinking”. (Norton, 2007). To help busy families eat healthier, it is up to parents to lead the way. “Sometimes, this requires parents to act as a united front. This means that one parent can not offer vegetables as a snack and the other parent makes regular trips to the ice cream store. By doing these, the children will often receive mixed messages and will likely make decisions on their own”. (Lair, 2000). Often times the decision they make may not be the best for their health. Therefore, parents who are good role models with their eating habits have a much easier time convincing their children to eat better. If parents are eating vital, wholesome foods like whole grains, beans, fresh vegetables and fruit, and healthy animal products- children will be more likely to follow suit. (Lair, 2000). Children who are introduced to healthy eating habits at an early age have a better chance of eating right when they are adults. America, one of the most obese countries, is partly caused by society being too busy to eat right; therefore, developing time saving techniques is key.
To develop good time saving techniques the best place to start is in the planning. “Preparing meals in advance, making shopping lists, and doing grocery shopping on a specific day can help make cooking more manageable”. (Survival Guide for Working Moms, 2006). Families should plan ahead for meals by creating weekly menus. When planning the menus,...
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