Good nutrition and a balanced diet will help your children grow up healthily. No matter how old your kids are, you can take steps to improve nutrition and to encourage smart eating habits. Here are some suggestions.
Family Meals
Family meals are comforting for both parents and kids. Children like to guess what they are going to have and parents get the chance to introduce new foods to children and to find out which foods they like and which ones they don’t.
Teens may turn up their noses at your plan of a family meal. It is not surprising because they’re trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents’ advice, so they use the mealtime as a chance to reconnect.
Stocking Up on Healthy Foods
Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what they can get at home. That’s why it’s important to control the supply lines—the foods which you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. You should have enough fruits, vegetables, lean meat and other good sources of protein, such as eggs and nuts, and healthy snacks, such as yogurt, peanut butter and whole-grain biscuits.
Being a Good Example
The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding fast food and sugary drinks, you’ll be sending the right message.
No Conflicts over Foods
Parents might find themselves shouting at children to get them to have healthy foods in front of them. This in fact can make children dislike what they are asked to eat.
Get Kids Included
Most kids will enjoy making the decision about what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. It can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat.
1. Family meals provide the chances for parents to do the following things EXCEPT .
A. guessing what kids are going to have B. finding what kids like and dislike
C. introducing new foods to kids D. reconnecting with kids
2. The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means .
A. teenagers may be interested in your plan of a family meal
B. teenagers may help you to make a plan of a family meal
C. teenagers may show no interest in your plan of a family meal
D. teenagers may refuse to help you to make a plan of a family meal
3. According to the article, which should NOT be done by parents?
A. Forming a healthful eating habit themselves. B. Forcing kids to have vegetables.
C. Stocking up on some fruits at home. D. Making meal plans with kids.
4. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. How to eat healthily. B. How to grow up healthily.
C. Help kids form healthful eating habits. D. Help kids know what a healthful meal is.
