I was with a group of 12 year olds today teaching them about nutrition amongst other things. They were forthcoming to confess that they don’t consciously eat fruits and vegetables. I was told their schools teach them practical guides under healthy eating but evidence is showing that even as the education system is proactive in this aspect, it will be an uphill task influencing children to make conscious effort to eat right.
As food eating habits are forged from young to adulthood, the influence from early to middle childhood environments are very important and must be harnassed. Parents and caregivers who are the most influential people to develop children’s food preferences, patterns of food intake, eating styles and physical activity patterns, must be taught how to change children’s health status.
Well, if you are a parent reading this blog now, please take heed this message. You are your children’s eating role models. If good eating habits are inculcated early in their lives, then your children will be conscious about how food choices are directly related to nutrition and health problems.
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