How parents influence their children's tastes

Although many scientific researches have shown that breast-fed children are less vulnerable to a number of diseases

including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15 than formula-fed children, a huge number of mothers all over the world don't find breast feeding a wise solution and keep resorting to infant formula. This proves that some parents don't give their children the right start for a healthy nutrition.

Why do teenagers love junk food?

Not surprisingly, most parents let their children eat unhealthy packaged snacks needing little or no preparation and take them to eat at fast food restaurants at an early age without being aware that they are unconsciously teaching them bad habits and directing their taste towards junk food. Therefore, children grow up to become teenagers who don't care about vitamins, proteins, minerals and other benefits of healthy food despite the fact that most if not all teenagers want to have a neat skin, strong bones, nice hair and a fit body in general. They love eating at fast food restaurants because they find the junk food crunchier and tastier than the food carefully prepared at home or at school canteens and they tend to neglect that fatty, sugary, salty foods and snacks are unhealthy.

What teenagers ought to eat?

Once teenagers become obese, they find it difficult to lose weight because of the bad eating habits they have acquired. They often complain and say that doctors and dietitians are making their lives unbearable because they are limiting their diets to a given type of food which is not actually true. In fact dietitians allow teenagers to eat all types of whole grain bread, cereals, pasta and rice liberally. Teenagers are also allowed to eat legumes, nuts, seeds and meat moderately together with low and non-fat milk, yogurt, and fresh cheese because they're good for healthy brain and bones. They are also good sources of proteins. Besides, they are allowed to eat the group of fruit and vegetables generously because they are sources of fibers, vitamins and minerals that provide energy. Fruit and vegetables boost the immune system as they help the body fight against cold, blood pressure, cholesterol, stroke, heart diseases, and diabetes. That's why teenagers may eat them generously. Yet they find this diet limited and feel they are deprived because they miss all sorts of food and drinks they got used to and loved since their early childhood.

How to encourage healthy eating at home and at school?

What children and teenagers need to know is the link between healthy eating and having the sound body they want to have. This may be done through peaceful discussions at home or at school. Discussions aren't usually fruitful if children don't acquire healthy eating habits at an early age. Parents should not prohibit eating out but they ought to teach their children that this has to be done on specific occasions. They may also contribute in making healthy eating a moral value to be taught to kids at an early age through bedtime stories for instance. In addition to that, eatin

g snacks at school during break time has to be fully considered by school administrations in order to ovoid peer influence as well as the influence of companies advertising their products in mass media and online. School principals may for example choose to serve the same snacks (seasonal fresh fruit or vegetables) for all students.

You don't want your kids to be obese. You want them to eat healthy food. Make healthy eating a moral value to teach them at an early age. Here are some useful links:
http://hb-famille.blogspot.com/2015/02/how-to-make-your-kids-eat-healthy-food.html
http://hb-famille.blogspot.com/2015/01/what-to-feed-your-baby-after-nurcing.html

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