What Are We Feeding Our Children (Continued)

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Tips for Moms and Dads

Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges for parents of children who have been accustomed to the Standard American Diet is to make a change in lifestyle. It is important for children to understand, so be sure to teach them why you are making the changes. Share with them your concerns about their health as well as your own.
Set a positive example. Children learn by what they see and hear! It is impossible to teach good eating habits to children if the parents eat poorly. Start teaching healthy eating habits as early as possible. The task becomes increasingly difficult once poor eating habits become established.

• Maintain authority over the food in your home. Parents should decide and make children aware of what foods are acceptable and available in the home. If you take the time to plan ahead, you can save many hours and lots of frustration. For instance, have fresh vegetables and fruits easily accessible for the  children to snack on. Plan your meals ahead, too.
• Involve the children in grocery shopping. Have them assist with making a grocery list, and allow them to choose which fresh vegetables they would like to try. Take them on an outing to a farmer's market or to a local orchard that does not use chemicals. Take the time to teach the children about the choices you are making and why. Be sure to feed the children prior to going shopping so they will not become demanding in the supermarkets.
• Include the children when making some of the meal selections. Make up menus ahead of time and post them so the children know what to expext. Children can be involved in preparing for the meal, setting the table, helping with the salad, helping with the juicing, and even clean-up chores. For instance, each child could be responsible to rinse his or her plate after the meal.
• Make mealtimes an enjoyable occasion for the whole family - a place to share the positive things that happened during the day, tell stories and laugh together. Teach children to slowly chew their food and savor the flavor, to not rush through the meal and hurry off to some other activity. It may take some extra effort, but it will be worth it in the long run. Parents should also establish a firm rule that the dining room table will never become a battleground.
• Plant a small garden that is easy to manage and allow the children to take part in the care of the vegetables. It gives them a sense of belonging. As a child watches the plants grow and mature they become excited about eating what they have helped produce. If you live in an area where you can't plant a garden, window box gardens are a wonderful option.

Children are very smart and learn quickly. Remember you are their teacher and the way you react to a changed diet and lifestyle will be seen by your children.

Psalms 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward.