The Importance Of Healthy Eating Habits

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Early adolescence is the best age to begin teaching healthy eating habits. During this developmental stage, children’s intellectual development is expanding in a major way. They are becoming curious and are eager to learn about things that interest them. This is also the age where children are more interested in helping their parents in tasks such as cooking. Abstract thought processes develop during early adolescence; children are able to understand more complex concepts and reason or argue their position on a subject. Because of these developmental changes, children are able to understand how unhealthy food directly affects them. Parents have the perfect opportunity to teach children how to cook healthy food by allowing children to help prepare …show more content…

To make it easier for children, parents can keep the refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy snacks. Early adolescence is the age where children develop the habits they will have for life, so it is important that children learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy food. Since children are capable of understanding more complicated ideas, parents should explain why healthy eating is important and what can happen to their body if they develop unhealthy eating habits. It is also important not to make any food off limits, instead explain what foods are acceptable to eat everyday and foods that we know are unhealthy, like a piece of cake, are acceptable to eat sometimes in moderation. The importance of a daily exercise routine is something that parents should stress so that children will develop healthy lifestyle habits that will carry them into adulthood. The best way parents can teach children how to live a healthy lifestyle is to be a good role model since the way you live is the most important message your children will …show more content…

One of the first things that I would recommend is that schools completely remove unhealthy food options from their cafeterias. Schools should offer nutritious meals that meet the recommended guidelines for children. Cafeteria workers need to be trained in healthy food preparation techniques, as well as make food look appealing and tasty. Another important aspect to remember when planning meal times is to make sure that students have an adequate amount of time to eat. A final recommendation is that schools offer breakfast, lunch and after school snacks. Some children are at school early and late to participate in extracurricular activities. Offering breakfast and after school snacks for these students will ensure they have a healthy option to eat. As part of healthy lifestyle education, schools should encourage children to exercise by offering a variety of after school activities, as well as physical education classes and encouraging active play at

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