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When it comes to healthy eating and food preferences, school children may fall anywhere within this wide range of the spectrum. Some children may still be picky eaters as they were in their pre-school while some might have picked up the pace and matured to become adventurous with their eating habits, trying everything that comes their way. But, no matter what kind of eating habits your children have taken over, you can help them shape their preferences towards nutritious food by guiding them towards healthy eating habits and a healthy lifestyle.

One of the most important aspects of healthy eating is portion control and cutting fat and sugar intake in food to optimal levels. A simple way to reduce fat intake in your child’s diet and promote a healthy weight include the following:

a) Non-fat dairy products
b) Whole grain bread or cereals
c) Healthy snacks such as fruits and vegetables

Also, scale back the number of sweetened drinks and salt in your child’s diet. If you are unsure of what kind of a diet or what kind of meals you should prepare for your child, consult a dietician for nutrition counseling. There are various approaches that you can take to develop healthy habits for children, which are as follows:

1. Don’t Dictate But Guide The Food Choices:

Make a wide variety of healthful food available in the house. This will help your children to make healthy food choices themselves. Leave all the unhealthy and junk food like soda, aerated drinks, canned juices, etc. from your shelves. Instead, encourage fresh fruit juices or water the most!

2. Always Tell Your Child To Eat Slowly:

Always Tell Your Child To Eat Slowly
A child can detect hunger better when they eat slowly. Before offering a second helping to the child, always ask them to wait for around 15 minutes to see if they truly are hungry. This will eventually give their brain time to register fullness. Also, always try and reduce the portion of the second serving and load it with more veggies. Is one of the most essential healthy Habits For Students to have.

3. Eat Meals Together As Often As Possible:

Eating meals together always should be about fun and discussing the day. Always make sure that you don’t end up arguing or scolding on the table since the child will always try to complete the meal quickly and run away. Meal times should always be pleasant. Children should never associate mealtime with stress.

4. Plan For Snack Time:

Continuously snacking may lead to overeating. Snacks that are planned at specific times during the day can be a part of the nutritious diet, without interfering with a child’s appetite at meal times. Nutritious snacks should always have a balance of healthy and a bit of junk (occasionally).

5. Family Goals Are A Must:

Family Goals Are A Must
Always restrict desserts and sodas to weekends. After all, everyone deserves to cheat once in a while, right? Also, make sure that everyone is well hydrated before dinner time.

6. Avoid The Allure Of Bribes:

We should never withhold food from children and never should use food as a bargain to get them to eat fruits or vegetables. When we do this, it sends a wrong message to them and it can inculcate negative thoughts about healthy food.

7. Pay Attention To Portion Size And Ingredients:

Make it a habit to always read food labels and limit foods with trans fat. Also, make sure that you serve food as per the portion indicated on the label.

8. Make Sure Your Children’s Meal Outside The Home Is Balanced Too:

Make Sure Your Children’s Meal Outside The Home Is Balanced Too
The whole point of balancing meals at home is that it should be balanced when the child is eating food outside too. Always select healthier items when dining at restaurants.
Now, that we have covered the Healthy habits for students that will help to promote a healthy lifestyle, let us move on to a recipe that is healthy and delicious too!

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites with steel cut oats and flax seeds are the perfect healthy, grab-and-go snack for a busy day!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal (like Rice Krispies or crushed rice chex
  • 1 cup peanut butter (you could use any nut butter)
  • 1 cup ground flaxseed ground
  • 2/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract


Instructions:

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before forming into 1-2 inch balls. Keep refrigerated for an easy snack on the go.
  • Feel free to include other "add-ins" like chopped almonds, raisins, etc.

Hope you enjoy this delicious and healthy snack! Written By, JBCN International School