Responsible eating as important as traditional three ’Rs
by KC Jones, feature editor

    Most parents realize the importance of teaching their children to read, count and use the toilet. After all, these are skills that affect the child’s ability to succeed in life.

   But how long the child actually lives may be determined by the eating habits taught by the parents.

   Most adults don’t eat healthfully, so it isn’t surprising that children don’t either. Some parents feel guilty because they give into their children’s demands for junk food. It is the parent’s responsibility to teach a child to try healthy foods.

   Kids cannot be expected to grow up and eat healthy foods if they never learned to do so at home.

   While each child will dislike certain foods, feeding him a variety of wholesome products will give him a chance to explore his tastes. Keep the portions small so the child will not be overwhelmed by the amount of food and give up before even trying it. Adding small pieces of unfamiliar food to a favorite food might also help.

   Get creative with substitutions. Use slices of carrots and cucumbers instead of chips and crackers with dips, cheeses and meats.

   When purchasing crackers, look for whole grain ingredients without hydrogenated oils. Top baked potatoes with cheese and steamed vegetables instead of butter, sour cream and bacon.

   Fast food may be a quick answer to hunger pangs, but children’s health is being affected. Cancer, heart disease and obesity percentages rise every year for children.

   Some health experts believe that many attention disorders are caused by blood sugar imbalances and/or food allergies of preservatives and chemical additives.

   As the old saying goes, “we are what we eat.” For many children, that means junk.

   Registered dietitian Mindy Hermann published a list of the ten worst foods for children: chicken nuggets, chips, donuts, French fries, fruit leathers, hot dogs, juice-flavored drinks, prepackaged lunches, sodas and toaster pastries. Sadly, this list is the staple diet for many of our children.

   These foods are full of fat, sodium and/or sugar while lacking nutritional value other than empty calories. Just read the product label to see for yourself.

   Some parents may be whining that they don’t have time to feed their children healthy foods, but the 10 top healthy foods for kids are very easy to prepare: old-fashioned oatmeal, eggs, nut butters, yogurt, melons, broccoli, sweet potatoes, whole grains and limited amounts of orange juice.

   Fresh fruit has more nutritional benefits for children than juice. Too much juice consumption has been linked to obesity and tooth decay.

   Children need to drink water. Milk and juice are good in moderation but water is essential. If your child doesn’t like water, it may be that the water tastes bad and needs purification.

   A solid carbon block water purification system is the best way to get inexpensive, great tasting water right from the tap. It may also be helpful to add a small amount of juice as flavoring.

   Some companies market supplements for children. Avoid any containing Aspartame since studies show it can be damaging to the brain.

   Not only is it important to get children interested in food that will benefit them, but they also need guidance toward a healthy lifestyle.

   Even if a parent smokes, they should tell the child about the destructiveness of the powerful addiction.

   The family needs to get off the couch. Pry the children’s hands from their computer games and get them moving outside. Exercise should be fun and safe. Bike riding, roller blading and swimming are usually fun for all.

   You can even make exercise educational by choosing to walk through museums and zoos. Even when the weather is bad, a family can share in activities and games.

   Remember to dedicate personal time with your children. A child needs a loving relationship with family to be complete. Even if you don’t have an apple, give your kid a hug and you’ll both benefit.