Our behaviour, what we eat and how we spend our days can shape our children’s future (no pressure!). Their developing brains are like sponges, waiting to see what information is vital and what they need to hold on to in order to create and shape their own futures.
It is therefore imperative that we lead by example and encourage our children to start making healthy food choices, without creating obsessive or complex behaviour towards food. Piece of cake right?
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Eat whole foods 85% of the time: the less processed the food, the easier it is on your child’s digestive system. Genetically modified ingredients, additives and preservatives found in processed foods are among the main causes of the increase in allergies and intolerances prevalent today.
- Behavioural problems have been linked with preservative calcium propionate (282), commonly used in bread. Always check the labels for a long list of numbers and unpronounceable ingredients, as childhood diseases such as asthma, hyperactivity and learning difficulties are often linked with these food additives.
- Keep school lunches interesting by mixing up the contents. Sorry but a sandwich day in day out won’t get you over the line (and may result in mouldy bread found stashed in the backs of cupboards months later). Try boiled eggs, fresh fruit, veggie sticks, or my Nut-Free Muesli Bars, Carrot Cupcakes or No-Bake Cookies.
- It is your responsibility to get your children out and about, rather than sitting indoors playing with gadgets. Spend quality time with kids, turn off computers, phones, iPads and play. Before you know it. They’ll be grown up and won’t want to hang out without you!
- Take time for yourself! Enjoy guilt free time out every day with exercise, yoga or meditation. Children are more resilient than you think and you’ll be a better parent for it.