Eating with family- discourage unhealthy eating in kids.

Eating healthy is one of the most basic needs and getting the kids to eat well has become a daily challenge of parents. In our obsession with calories and vitamins; we tend to forget that food has cultural value also. The childhood is full of memories associated with food (b'days, festivals , other holidays etc.) and it’s the experience which makes it worthwhile.

Here are a few tips for eating healthy as a family:

No TV rule while dining- Talk to each other instead of watching TV. With less distraction and more interaction the kids tend to finish their food.
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Don’t eat alone- we tend to eat in a more balanced way when in company. This helps us watch what we are eating. An aware family will always have more healthy dishes on the plate.

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Don’t hurry up with your meals- Eating is an experience to be savored. Dinner with your family is usually a time to catch up on everyday activities of each person.

Cook your own meals- This ensures that you have control over what the family eats. Involve you family with small tasks like washing and peeling vegetables or even laying the table. Doing things together make you feel part of the team, and teach lessons of cooperation to the little ones.

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Be a role model- We tend to forget that kids observe our behavior. They will most likely follow you if they see you do it. So if you want children to eat well, do it yourself first.

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Develop a kitchen garden- or even planting some food in pots will do. This will not only give the freshest of produce, but it'll ensure that some excercise is done while gardening. Delegation of responsibility to the kids regarding care of plants will keep them busy and also make them responsible.

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