As adults, we all understand the importance of a balanced diet. Sure, chips and cookies taste fantastic, but we can’t use them as a cornerstone of our food intake. We need to make sure that we have the right amount of fruits, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates to keep us fuelled as we go about our daily lives. If we don’t, most of us could start to notice weight gain, poor skin and increased levels of sickness, to name a few things.
However, kids can often seem immune to such concerns. Thanks to all the playing they do, they can eat seemingly whatever they want. And they’re far too young to be worrying about spots. Regardless, it’s still crucial that they have a balanced diet. And not just the same few foods, day in, day out. In this post, we explain three reasons why.
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Supporting healthy growth
First and foremost, a balanced diet is essential for healthy growth. Whilst you might not see as many physically noticeable effects of a poor diet in your kids, it’s all going on under the surface. As well as supporting their growth, eating well when they’re younger reduces their chances of developing serious health problems as they get older. For example, including enough calcium in their diet will ensure they have strong teeth and bones.
Additionally, a balanced diet can support emotional and cognitive wellbeing. Omega-3 fatty acids boost brain health, helping with memory and attention span, whilst fruit, vegetables and whole grains help regulate your child’s mood.
Expand their palate
Traveling abroad or even just trying out a new restaurant with your kids can be a great family experience – but only if your kids are willing to try something other than chicken nuggets. Feeding them a balanced diet from an early age and getting them to try out new things on a regular basis can help expand their palate as they grow, and move away from the familiar.
This doesn’t mean that you have to churn out a variety of new and exciting foods every week – most parents understandably don’t have the time or budget for that – but you can try and move away from traditional children’s foods when suitable. Whilst falafel, ramen, chickpeas and mackerel don’t sound like kid-friendly foods, there’s no harm in trying in small amounts.
Teach them vital life skills
Whilst it might seem like a long way off, one day, your little kids will become adults and will need to feed themselves. The skills they learn at home with you will be incredibly influential as they grow older and more independent, so teaching them good habits early on will set them up for life – and this includes creating a balanced diet.
Feeding Your Kids a Balanced Diet Conclusion
As parents, sometimes we can unintentionally influence our children with our own thoughts and feelings about food through our word choices. When showing your children what to eat, try to move away from labeling items as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods, and focus instead on balance. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a bag of chips, as long as it’s on occasion, rather than as a dietary staple. Be careful of your wording, and try not to let kids see you worrying about counting calories or unnecessarily discussing weight loss. That way, you can encourage them to have a positive relationship with the food they eat.
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