We all have bad habits, and sometimes we do them without even realizing. Becoming aware of them is the first step in making positive changes. Some common habits that you don’t want to pass on to your children are:
- Snacking all day long
- Eating in front of the Tv
- Eating when bored/stressed/upset
- Skipping breakfast
- Consuming a lot of fast food or convenience foods
- Drinking a lot of juice or pop
- High intake of sugary snacks
- Frequent dieting or preoccupation with weight or food
- Negative comments about weight or self image
- Eating dessert regularly
Tips for being a healthy eating role model:
- Eat and prepare foods with your children
- Eat at the table as a family with no distractions
- Provide and eat a variety of healthy foods
- Avoid skipping meals
- Moderate portion sizes
- Try new foods, offer them to your children but don’t force them to try it
- Limit high fat and high sugar foods in the home
- Drink water and milk, limit juice and sodas
- Focus on and talk about why healthy foods are good for you, rather than why “bad” foods are bad
- Make an effort to make home-cooked meals
- Be physically active