The basics
- A wide variety of healthy foods is important for a well-balanced diet.
- How much children need to eat depends on their activity levels. For busy and active children, include healthy snacks in their daily routine to keep energy levels high.
- When children eat a healthy breakfast, they find it easier to stay active and concentrate at school.
By the time children are in kinder, preschool or school, they might be interested in choosing some food themselves. Soon they’ll start to get all sorts of ‘unhealthy’ food messages from friends and TV. So this is a great time to teach them which foods are healthy and which aren’t.
Drinks
Active children need plenty to drink. Water is the healthiest drink. Also include up to three glasses of milk a day for strong bones. Sweet drinks such as juice, soft drink and cordial are unnecessary and can contribute to health problems including obesity.
Healthy snacks
Because of variations in activity, some children are hungrier in the afternoon than in the evening. If this is the case, offer a nutritious afternoon snack such as a sandwich with a glass of milk, or a bowl of soup and toast.
Try to avoid giving your child junk food, such as packets of chips, chocolate biscuits and even muesli bars. These are ‘empty’ foods and low on nutrients. They will reduce your child’s appetite for healthy foods, and increase the likelihood of tooth decay and obesity.
Preschool and school lunches
Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to take lunch from home. This can be more nutritious than what’s offered at the school tuckshop or canteen. If you let your child help with food preparation, meal planning and choosing healthy items when shopping (not those attractively wrapped chocolate bars), your child is more likely to gain an appreciation for nutrition and for healthy food in general.
