Eating family meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner at a specific time every day as a family, enhances the child’s appetite and makes him eat with a good appetite. Scientific studies have proven that children who eat breakfast with the family and before going to school are 20% more active and efficient than children who eat breakfast alone.
Eating home-cooked meals is healthier for the whole family and sets a great example for children about the importance of food. Restaurant meals tend to be higher in fat, sugar and salt. Save eating out for special occasions.
Get children’s participation in choosing food. Children enjoy helping adults shop for groceries, choosing what goes in the lunch box, and preparing dinner. It’s also an opportunity for you to teach them about the nutritional values of different foods, and (for older children) how to read food labels. The child’s participation in buying vegetables and fruits makes him very happy and truly ready to eat this food, the nutritional components of which he purchased.
Children from the age of 8 years to adulthood can participate in preparing meals. Preparing meals or participating in preparing them adds happiness to children, stimulates their appetite, and prepares early to eat food with appetite, as he waits for the result of preparing food.
Providing a variety of healthy snacks available and prepared in advance at home instead of outside snacks that are high in calories.
Keep plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain snacks, and healthy drinks (water, milk, pure fruit juice) around and easily accessible so kids get used to reaching for these healthy snacks instead of junk food like soda, chips, or cookies.
The most important and very dangerous thing is using food as a reward or bribe. This makes the child hate food and try to engage in maneuvers and battles in order to escape from food.