5 Food Habits for Parents

Kids and food aren’t always best of friends. Very often I get asked how to make kids eat healthy, so I’ve compiled examples from my experience working with kids in workshops and other interactions.

Healthy eating habits aren’t transactional — they develop over time, change over time, and many times leave parents at their wits’ end. But making it simple is in our hands. Here are five things we can look at for developing better eating habits.

1. Don’t overuse the word “Healthy”

All your little ones want is good, tasty and appealing food. Kids live in the present — all they want is to enjoy that moment. While talking about healthy food is important for awareness, it can’t be so much that they start repelling. Make good food available for them to relish, but don’t completely cut out the junk either. That’s not possible in a world so diverse and socially active.

2. Don’t preach — practice too

Everything we want our kids to do, we have to set ourselves the same goal. Don’t just ask them — do it, so they’re inspired to follow you. This applies to both parents equally; otherwise the child will always find a loophole in the system.

3. Take them grocery shopping

This has many advantages. The child starts knowing what goes into food, what brands the family eats, and adds to their general knowledge. You get a helping hand in the aisles. And you can teach them to read labels, check expiry dates, and understand food better. Let them pick the fruits and vegetables they want to eat.

4. Eat together whenever possible

Eating together from the start makes a big difference. Kids naturally observe how we serve food, eat everything on the plate, and take a little of everything. All this is gradual learning that needs to start early.

5. Learn to adapt with age

Their eating patterns, choices, and appetite will keep fluctuating — and that’s completely normal. Adults are no different. Kids go through similar changes and we need to respect their choices. Don’t give up because they once didn’t like something. Keep trying it in different forms.

---

Let’s make good food enjoyable for kids rather than treating it as a to-do list.