Teaching children how to eat healthy can be challenging. But good nutrition should be taught at a young age. It will reduce the risk of obesity and illness as a child gets older.

Your child may not always like eating healthy foods, but once they understand how important it is to follow the right diet plan, they may want to incorporate more good stuff in their diet. Once they get used to the taste of healthy foods, they may not complain when you add them to their plates.

So how do you teach your child about nutrition? Here are a few guidelines that will help you set them in the right direction.

Involve Them in the Process

Get your kid excited about nutrition by asking them to suggest healthy recipes, inviting them to help in food prep, and taking them to the grocery store to pick out nutritious food items.

Make it a Routine

Healthy eating shouldn’t be something you do occasionally. It should be a way of life. Nutrition should be considered in every meal you serve your child.

Show Kids What Eating Right Looks Like

Explain to your child’s that half their plate should be filled with fruits and veggies while the other half should contain whole grains and lean protein that will give them the energy they need to run and play. You should tell your child which foods qualify as whole grains, proteins, etc. You should also let them know the categories the food you are buying fall under when you go shopping.

Avoid Eliminating ‘Bad Food’ From Your Child’s Diet

You should never tell your child not to eat a certain food. This may make them want to eat the food even more. Simply limit unhealthy food in your child’s diet and give it to them as a treat on special occasions.

Talk About Portion Size

Good nutrition is not only about what you eat but how much you eat. Teach your child to pay attention to serving sizes on packages so they keep food consumption under control. Explain that they may consume larger amounts of healthy, low-calorie foods, but should limit high calorie, unhealthy foods.

Teach Kids to Pay Attention to Hunger Cues

Hunger cues tell a child when they’re hungry and when they’re full. But many children (and adults) ignore their body when it’s telling them they’re full, especially when they are given big portions or if they are served tempting sweets. Teach your child to eat slowly and pay attention to what their bodies are telling them, so they don’t overdo it.

Set a Good Example

Your child won’t be motivated to eat healthy unless they see you eating healthy. Set a good example by adding healthy foods to your plate. Eating healthy foods as a family will also help.

Good nutrition should be taught at young age. The tips in this article will help you get your child off to a healthy start. What will you be doing to ensure your young one’s meals are balanced?