And habits begun in childhood can prove to be an individual s most powerful weapon against future disease. Parents are the gatekeepers for their children s food. Children learn through their environment and by example. Dr. Leila Beker, nutritionist and assistant clinical professor at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Children s National Medical Center in Washington D.C., says parents have the responsibility to provide age-appropriate and safe foods for their children. We are in control, she says.
Parents have to set boundaries and limits, and, as in all things, children learn from our behavior.
For kids of all ages, she adds, it s always do as I do. If your own diet needs some overhauling, providing a good example for your kids may be the motivation you have been seeking. Teaching your kids about healthy eating should feel more like an adventure than a lesson. Author and Nutritionist Ellyn Satter says that children should be taught to enjoy food, not to understand complicated nutrition. Dr. Beker agrees.