Healthy eating habit

New ideas take a time to become a habit and healthy eating habits are no different. You will need to make changes a small step at a time and persevere.

Making healthy eating a habit

• Lead by example. Foods you should be eating, the entire family should be. they won't grow up to eat breakfast if you don't.
• Introduce a new fruit or vegetable each week, have the kids choose from a list. You can build the list yourself or have the kids help you.
• Have a list of snacks that they can have when they get home from school, and have always healthy snacks at home.
• Use natural alternatives to sugary products such as berries instead of syrup on pancakes. Try to use as little sugar as possible.
• Work on getting regular eating times. The recommendation is 4 to 6 meals, including snacks, a day.
• Have fruits and vegetables already cut up and easily accessible.
• Have the kids help pick out the fruits and vegetables at the store, younger kids will want to eat the one's they picked out especially. Take them on a pick your own fruit and vegetable farm.
• Water or milk with meals, no sugary drinks while they are eating.
• Eat together so the kids can see you enjoying new and nutritious foods.
• Make small changes to begin. less sugary drinks, switch to whole wheat products, add fruits and veggies to every meal.

Your worst enemy? Peer pressure. No matter how healthy you eat at home, your kids are bound to see children that may not be eating as healthily as they are - at school, play dates, party venues - and they may be tempted.

Kids love pancakes, there are delicious pancake recipes that include a variety of fruits.