Most parties for your kids offer a plethora of unhealthy options for them, with pretty much nothing that makes you feel good, or that will make you kids feel better in the long term. Junk food such as potato chips and soda, still dominate at almost every party for kids that you little ones will attend. When you consider that most kids attend at least one party every weekend, this is definitely something that makes it harder for you to instill the ability to make healthy choices in them. So what is a parent to do?
You can start by making the parties that you throw for your kids healthier and full of better choices. Some kids spa parties feature facials for children that are all natural, using only healthy ingredients. These same parties also can offer chocolate fondue with fruit for dipping. While the chocolate is a bit iffy in terms of being a healthy choice, it also becomes a reason for your kids to get their fruit servings every day.
Another idea is to help your kids understand why it is so important for them to eat healthier. With what has been called an epidemic of obesity among the youngest members of society, this has never been more important. They need to understand that the choices they make today will stay with them for years to come, making it easier or more difficult to be and stay healthy, depending on the choices they make.
If you send your kids to another parent’s party, you have a lot less choice over what they will be able to eat. But you can specially request that there be vegetable and fruit choices there for them to possibly pick when having their snack. You can also send them with their own fruit platter to share with their friends, if you find that they like to eat fruit. Some kids love to eat fruits, some love to eat veggies, and some will just eat chips if they are offered, especially if they aren’t allowed to eat these things at home. That’s why it’s also important to not restrict their diets at home too severely, as then they are more likely to make bad choices when mom and dad aren’t around.
They can be taught that moderation is important, such as eating one serving of chips, and then having another serving of fruit. This way it is balanced. That it certainly critical and important, and it is likely to help them in the long run to have a healthier diet over time, and to understand the importance of making good food choices. The better that you teach them when they are young, the more likely they are to continue to have healthy habits as they get older. As our bodies grow, we become less able to eat unhealthy food without consequence, so the timing of such lessons is crucial. The better you teach them, both with words and with example, the better off they will be later in their lives.
Chronicling Health 