Nowadays, a large number of families with children live with a hectic daily schedule of activities, appointments, and commitments. This type of lifestyle ensures that not only will it be difficult to sit down as a family to a healthy homemade dinner, but that the family’s meals are likely to be comprised of a considerable amount of take-out and frozen, prepackaged meals.
It’s not a great surprise that these diets are typically unhealthy and may very well adversely impact your child’s health and wellness. Some poor early eating habits extend into adulthood and might even evolve into long-term illnesses.
What Every Parent Already Knows
As parents, we know that eating well has a myriad of benefits for our children. A healthy diet and nutritious meal plan will improve your child’s mind and energy, even out their moods, help to stabilize and maintain a healthy weight and prevent the early onset of some health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. No two children are exactly alike so, as parents, to believe that each of our children will act and eat the same is just wrong.
When Life Throws You a Curve
When a family has a child with a specific medical disorder, the importance of a healthy diet increases ten-fold. Conditions such as dysphagia cause a person to have difficulty swallowing. Thankfully there are products such as SimplyThick, a liquid thickener that when added to a watery food makes it easier to ingest. Just as important as being able to get nutritious meals into our children is what is in those meals. This is especially relevant when one of our children is living with a medical condition.
Nutritious Meals Feed The Whole Child
Any child living off a diet of processed foods, full of sugar and empty of nutrients, is bound to have difficulty learning and thriving. When a child suffers from anxiety, depression or even ADHD, they will have the added struggle of that disease with which to contend.
Most parents will agree that it is easier to identify the physical needs of their children but find it much harder to understand mental health issues. Nutritious food is one area parents can provide for both the physical and psychological well-being of their kids.
Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies
Eating well will not only reduce hunger but also has an incredible effect on mental health. A nutrient-rich daily diet which includes wholegrain cereals, vegetables and fruit will trigger and deliver the neurotransmitters dopamine together with serotonin, both of these contributing to the promotion of stable and happier moods.
A great way to get your child interested in eating healthy foods is to do so yourself. Modeling healthy food choices not only gives you the energy and health you need but will also set a brilliant example.
Some Specifics
The signs and symptoms of Attention-Deficit disorder will often decrease by eating meals consisting of healthy and well-balanced veggies and fruits due to their ability to encourage and facilitate concentration.
Enjoy foods such as apples, grapes, and spinach, all of which have demonstrated memory enhancement benefits. Blueberries, salmon, avocados, and nuts are other great ways to boost brain health, protecting against cognitive deterioration.
Healthy eating will directly impact some mental health conditions, reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Regular, wholesome meals will keep blood sugar levels steady, reducing mood swings that are symptomatic of depression and anxiety.
Eating well is all about making sure you eat balanced meals. Teaching your children to make sensible meals begins when they are young. Regardless of the current health status of any family member, start making healthy meals today, and the whole family will thrive!
Useful Apps
Technology is nearly touching every aspect of our lives, and having a healthy diet is no exception. Below is a list of some apps that can help you in having a good diet:
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