Healthy Eating For Your Family

Happy New Year!

Eating healthier is something most of us resolve do every year. That promise to ourself only lasts a few days at best for most of us.  But if you are really serious about your family eating healthier this year, there are a few things you can do to make it easier.  It’s best to make gradual changes rather than cutting out all junk food at once – leading to deprivation.  Allow yourself some treats now and then, otherwise the temptation becomes too much and you end up giving up completely.  Moderation and balanced meals are important concepts to keep in mind when trying to change your eating habits.

Start by adding more fruits and vegetables.  Even people who think they eat fairly healthy may not get enough servings a day.  Do you know it is recommended to have five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day, based on age groups?  Younger children from two to six need five.  Older children, teen girls, active women and most men should have seven servings.  Teens and active men should have nine servings.  It is also recommended to have one more serving of vegetables than fruits.  It is also a good idea to have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables as each kind offer different benefits.  Most of us do not get the recommended servings and variety our bodies need.

Watch the portions of other food groups, because those tend to be the things we overindulge in when we eat.  A serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards.  Most cuts of meat are much larger than that.  If your family might bulk at the sight of less meat on their plate, disguise it.  Cut the meat into bite size pieces and combine it with other things, such as stir fry vegetables, rice or noodles.  You still have the flavor of the meat, but not as much of it.

Snacking is one of the things that trips us up every time.  The key is choosing healthier snacks.  It’s not that you can’t have chips or sweet snacks, but you have to limit how many and how often your family eats them.  There are many baked snacks that are quite tasty and healthier.  Sweet snacks or desserts shouldn’t be avoided completely, but again the important thing is the serving size and how often it is eaten. 

It is also important to remember that children should never be put on a diet unless under a doctor’s orders.  Instead, they should just focus on healthier food choices and a more active lifestyle.  Setting a good example of healthier eating habits is the best way to help your children to eat healthier.  If you simply buy less junk food, it won’t be in the house to be eaten.  Then it can be a special treat, such as when you go to parties or have special family fun nights.

Here’s to a healthier new year you can stick to this year!  If you have a bad day, don’t beat yourself up – just start again tomorrow!