How to improve children’s taste for healthy food?
Main Point:
Don’t worry, if your children don’t like to eat fruits and vegetables. You have only to involve them in cooking or food preparation classes to increase their taste and willingness for these things.
Published in:
Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy
Study Further:
Researchers are of opinion that exposing children to healthy foods is important. They have found that sending children to cooking classes or involving them in cooking at house could help them in increasing their interest in eating vegetables, fruits, and fibers. These classes and programs can help in positively influencing children’s food preferences and behaviors.
In the present era, it is important to expose children to healthy habits. It has been reported that childhood obesity rates are increasing in the U.S. Over 30% of adolescents in the U.S. are obese, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2012. This increase is attributed to the decreased consumption of meals at home since the 1980s. People go to restaurants, and prefer to eat less nutritious foods. Involving children in cooking habits can change their thinking about healthy foods, thereby positively affecting their future life.
Research is also showing that such programs could develop prolonged healthy habits in children. However, further studies are required to confirm the positive influence of such activities on children when they become adult. Moreover, this research is also showing the importance of parents in the healthy eating habits of children.
Most important of all, children enjoy such activities, and obviously it is good for their health.
Reference:
Hersch, D., Perdue, L., Ambroz, T., & Boucher, J. (2014). The Impact of Cooking Classes on Food-Related Preferences, Attitudes, and Behaviors of School-Aged Children: A Systematic Review of the Evidence, 2003–2014 Preventing Chronic Disease, 11 DOI: 10.5888/pcd11.140267
Exposing children to healthy food is an important aspect. It’s also a shame that more than 30% of the United States are obese. Not only it is important to expose healthy food to children, but adults as well. If “mom and dad” had pizza for dinner, why should “kid” have broccoli? Children are quick learners, they will pick up whatever is exposed to them. Intelligence is nature, knowledge is nurtured. Now a days, with the busy economy, people are going for what is convenient for them. Not to mention technology is taking over our life, and making us all lazy. Food choices are the same. Instead of buying a whole head lettuce, people are buying the pre-cut lettuce to prep their salads. This is just one of the examples out of many more, but what’s the point? Same way with preparing food for children. Chef Boyardee shouldn’t be included in the kid’s menu. There’s not enough nutritions in them, but instead, it is high in sodium with a lot of preservatives. Instead of grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, parents should put some protein in it too. Incorporating a healthy diet is hard and it takes dedication. Parents should not only teach their kids how to eat healthy, they should also participate as well.
Overall, I think this blog is a great way for kids to get involved. It is also a good skill for them later in their journey.
This is a great way to get kids involved and a good skill for them to learn. The obesity rates in America are an embarrassment to the country. Teaching children to cook their food is a great value to any person. it teaches them how to prepare their own food like an adult. it also shows the children the value of cooking healthy meals. Incorporating healthy diet habits is essential to a child’s future. In a fast-food thriving society, parents should encourage their children to learn how to prepare their own food, as well as promote exercise. Many children with lazy parents have very little hope. If a parent refuses to cook ,what type of message are they sending to their child?