Your child looks up to you and learns from you every day. Being a healthy eating role model helps your child develop healthy eating habits too.
The Role Model How-To Guide
Step 1: Embrace the honor of being a ROLE MODEL.
Show your child a healthy eating pattern by having one yourself. Eat a variety of nutritious foods, including dairy, as well as vegetables, fruits, grains, and lean protein.
Step 2: Prepare and cook together.
Talk about what you are preparing. Share the benefits and why you are eating them. Get your child involved in helping prepare the meal too.
Step 3: Practice planning meals and snacks together.
Include your child in planning meals and snacks. Give your child a couple of different options for meals throughout the week and ask which ones they want to make. Visit our Health eKitchen, a resource built just for you with over 200 delicious recipes. Explore Health eKitchen for some great meal and snack ideas.
Step 4: Shop together.
A visit to the grocery store, farmers market, or any type of farm is the perfect chance to explore all kinds of food. Talk about where food comes from. Consider letting them pick out one or two new nutritious foods.
Tip
Use Health eKitchen during your meal prep. Follow these easy steps to quickly find recipes your family is sure to enjoy! Click here.
Step 5: Offer the recommended amount of dairy every day.
Serve the recommended serving size. Let your child decide how much they want to finish. They will begin making nutritious choices when they see you make them too.
Step 6: Encourage your child to talk about nutritious food and drink choices.
Share what you notice about the taste, texture, and smell of the food you eat. Encourage your child to describe their experiences as well.
Step 7: Role model adventurous eating.
Try new foods together. Imagine their joy in watching you experience eating blue cheese for the first time.
Step 8: Drink milk in front of your children.
When they see you enjoy drinking milk, they will be more likely to enjoy milk too.