To moms with kids, you probably always find yourself constantly paddling through the challenge of teaching your kids about nutrition so that they grow up and make their own wise decisions about the food that they should eat and their health. And yes, it is not easy. The kid’s world is filled with treats at school, junk food from other family members, and manipulating tv commercials that influences them to want more candies and foods with artificial ingredients. At the grocery store, we pass aisles full of foods that we would mostly consider “not so healthy.”

Here are some ways how you can give them some direction for solid nutrition education.

Keep it age-appropriate

Kids require a healthy diet with protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals for their growth and development, but how can you translate this information to them?

Instead of trying to explain the science of foods, tell them that “milk helps your bone grow” or “bread gives you the energy to jump and run faster” and some helpful reminders like “eat colors of the rainbow” to get the vitamins they need and use colorful graphics to help your kids understand food groups.

Help Kids cook

Kids tend to get interested in healthy foods when you make them in a fun way. Many kids love helping their parents shop in the grocery stores, making this moment a way to teach and introduce to them how to choose different types of food. Meal preparation and cooking is also a great way to engage them because involving them in food shopping and cooking will help them learn about what goes into their favorite foods. 

Teach healthy habits 

Kids are inquisitive, and explaining nutrition may help them understand why we provide wholesome meals at school and encourage them to select wholesome snacks. Eating together and talking about the way food tastes and what goes into it can moreover help kids understand and create a sound relationship with foods and eating. Parents are the best influencer in shaping kids’ food preferences and habits because it is more likely for them to follow your example when you prepare, eat and enjoy lots of healthy and nutritious foods.

Play Healthy Foods Bingo

Game is a great way to teach your kids about foods and nutrition. It helps them introduce themselves to foods they don’t normally eat. Here is the best example that you can try!

MyPlate Grocery Store Bingo is an entertaining and instructive game that will keep your kids' interest while enabling you to finish your shopping. We like to refer to that as a "MyPlate, MyWin!"

One of the greatest strategies to battle childhood obesity and aid children in improving their health and well-being is to teach them about nutrition at a young age and to continue their education as they mature and develop. Preschoolers should learn about nutrition since they are at a critical stage in their development when they can start to grasp how nutrition affects their lives.

PDO I Ayesa Gay A. Bejerano, RND

References:

How To Talk to Your Kids About Nutrition

https://www.nutritionnews.abbott/pregnancy-childhood/kids-growth/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-nutrition/

A Guide to fun Tips on teaching kids about Nutrition

https://huetrition.com/blog/a-guide-to-fun-tips-on-teaching-kids-about-nutrition/

Eat the Rainbow! Nutrition Lesson for Kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1StpMfMwXY

My Plate, Bingo!

https://myplate-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/2020-12/Bingo_508.pdf