Tuesday 30 December 2014

Can we influence children's eating habits by what we say to them?

As parents and caregivers, we want our children to eat healthful foods and be in the habit of doing so all the time. We try our best to motivate them to eat. We give them rewards when they finish their food, we talk to them about the health benefits of good food, we set up a good example by eating the right foods ourselves, etc., but do these sincere efforts really work? If not, then what really works?

If you said to the children that eating ice-cream and chocolate is good for them, will they really look forward to eating it as much as they do because you stop them from eating too much of it? On the contrary, will the children eat peas and broccoli more willingly if you focus on their taste and texture rather than the health benefits associated with them?

Follow the link below to read an eye-opening research article published by the University of Chicago about what really works towards imbibing healthy food habits in children. This article confirms the fact that the psyche of the child has a big role to play in all the aspects of child development.

http://www.chicagobooth.edu/capideas/magazine/fall-2014/how-to-get-children-to-eat-healthy-food?cat=business&src=Magazine

I am using the strategy stated in the article with my own daughter and, slowly but surely, it seems to be working.  Do share your thoughts and your success stories so that we can all learn from each other's experiences.