K-State dietitian explains how parents can encourage healthy eating

K-STATE DIETITIAN EXPLAINS HOW PARENTS CAN ENCOURAGE HEALTHY EATING

MANHATTAN -- Helping children learn to eat right isn't difficult if Mom or Dad has healthy eating habits already.

"Family environment is one major influence of eating behaviors," said Linda Griffith, assistant professor of human nutrition at Kansas State University. "Food attitudes of parents have been shown to be a strong predictor of food preferences among children."

Since children are likely to imitate those around them, they need the best guidance possible when it comes to eating, and that means starting with breakfast. Griffith said eating breakfast helps establish a regular eating pattern, which helps regulate appetite and discourages snacking and overeating. There are a lot of ready-to-eat breakfast foods, including bagels, yogurt and fruit; however, if children don't like traditional breakfast foods, serving last night's leftovers is OK, too.

And while encouraging children to eat right is important, parents shouldn't force control on their children's eating habits. Many parents wrongly assume that children don't know the difference between feeling hungry and full. Children may not know they need peas, but they do know how big a serving of peas they want to eat.

"Parents should foster environments of learning where children are provided opportunities to make healthful food choices," Griffith said. "Allowing children to make decisions about what and how much to eat provides the child an opportunity to learn how to adjust their eating patterns."

Because it is important for children to recognize when they are full, Griffith said encouraging or forcing children to clean their plates bypasses that cue process, which can lead to disordered eating.

If hunger strikes between meals, children can have a snack, as it helps promote health and pleasure in life. Allowing children to have an occasional cookie is fine, Griffith said. However, limits should be set on how much sweets are consumed in one day. Ready-to-eat foods such as cottage cheese, cereal, juice and milk would be more healthful snack choices, she said.

When children go to school, parents can still have an influence on what their children eat. Griffith said parents should become familiar with school menus and talk to their children about available food choices. Parents can also participate on parental advisory committees for the school's food service program and support nutrition learning efforts at school by reinforcing good nutrition practices at home.

For children who prefer taking their lunches to school, Griffith said parents and children can jointly plan and pack meals that are healthful, as allowing children to be involved in planning their school lunch helps deter the temptation to trade carrots for cookies.

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Editor's note: October is Child Health Month. The American Academy of Pediatrics began celebrating Child Health Month in 1992, by engaging in a wide range of public awareness activities to help benefit children.

For more information contact Linda Griffith at 785-532-0151.

October 2000