Your Secrets To Make Your Family Meals Healthier

They say that family meals are an important opportunity to get a child close with his family and teach him the basics of social communication.

They also say that family meals are a great way to introduce a child to healthy eating habits and encourage him to opt for smart food choices, following his mother’s lead on shopping and cooking practices.

Here are some important tips and guidelines on how to be a good role model for your child and all your family members when it comes to food:

• Cut down on salt and try using herbs, lemon juice and grated ginger instead.
• Before buying any canned or prepackaged food, take a closer look at the nutrition facts labels and get to know the amounts of calories, salt, sugar and nutrients per each serving.
• Present your meals in an exciting way full of colors. Decorate your dishes for example with slices of red pepper or minced herbs.
• Plan well your family meals and make sure everyone of them gets a proper balance of the nutrition he needs.
• Reduce the fat in your meals by using healthy cooking techniques, like grilling, steaming and boiling.
• Serve your family chicken, fish and lean meats that have the least amount of fats and cholesterol.
• Serve your family whole grain foods high in fibers and minerals, like whole wheat products, oat, bran and quinoa.
• Keep healthy foods that are high in fibers and minerals, like chopped veggies and fruits, low-fat yogurt, kale and peanut butter, crackers and hummus, handy for snacks.
• Limit your family’s consumption of candies, sweets and sugary fatty snacks for special occasions.
• Offer your family water and low-fat milk instead of soft drinks and sugary juices.

Last but not least, don’t allow your family to watch TV while eating meals together; According to a study from the University of Minnesota in the US, kids who eat dinner with their families in front of the television, get less nutrition than their peers.

Read More: Activities To Explore Taste For Toddlers