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A Visual Guide to Healthy Eating
Using the Food Pyramid By Donna Smith
While teaching the Food Pyramid is a fun way to introduce the concept of eating healthy, being a good nutrition role model is critical in forming an environment that promotes healthful food choices. "The best way to teach your child as she grows is to be a good role model for healthful eating and offer mostly nutritious food choices," says Evers.
It is also important to involve young children in food-related activities and use a "hands-on" approach. "The best way to learn about good nutrition is through experience with food," says Evers. "Shopping for food, comparing labels, trying new recipes, learning to understand food advertising and growing a garden are just a few of the many ways kids can begin to discover the world of food."
Levin agrees. "Take your child to the grocery store with you and have him help you pick out the vegetables," she says. "Allow your child to be involved in the preparation of the vegetables, washing, peeling, etc." And children are more likely to eat their vegetables if they see their parents eating them. "Make sure you eat them in front of your child and talk about them as you do, 'Mmmm, this broccoli is so fresh and green' or 'This is the sweetest corn I've ever tasted.'"