Healthy Eating for Kids in School

The way child obesity has increased in recent times is really alarming. You can prevent this by establishing healthy eating habits early in life and make sure that your children will grow up with a healthy mind and body.

But ensuring they eat a healthy and balanced diet is not easy .you can't supervise them, especially when they are at school, or if they come home and eat what they like to from kitchen while you are still at work.
There are ways to help giving a balanced diet for your children even if you are not standing over them 24 hours a day, and you can still include treats-making for a more harmonious life all around
Some steps only parents can take such as serving healthy meals or deciding to take the family on a nature hike so they can exercise in a fun way.

But kids can take charge, too.

Here are few suggestions for balanced diet for kids :

Make 1 day in a week for whatever you want to eat be it ice-cream or a pizza or yummy burger rest of the days eat healthy so that you look smart, fit and stay healthy.
1. Eat a variety of foods, especially fruit and vegetables. You may have a favorites food, but the best choice is to eat variety. Taste new foods and the old ones you have not tried for a while.
2. Drink water and milk most often. When you are really thirsty, cold water is no. 1 thirst quencher. Kids need calcium to grow strong bones, and milk is a great source of calcium.
3. Listen to your body. What does it feel like to be full? When you are eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feel comfortably full stop eating right away.
4. limit screen time (watching T.V., D.VD, Computer games) the more time you spend on these sit-down activities, less time available for activities.
5. Be active .one job you have as a kid -& it's fun to find out which outdoor activity you enjoy the best.

Myth buster (for moms)- Milk is the only source of calcium for children.

This is not true. If your child is taking any milk product e.g. curd, paneer or buttermilk 3 times in day, he is getting enough calcium. Though you can add tofu, green leafy vegetables to increase calcium in his diet

For more information contact

DR. DEEPIKA MALIK
deepikamalik@lifecentury.com

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