Nutrition
Healthy Eating at the Kids Table
Centered around food, Thanksgiving is a great time to teach your kids ways to eat healthy:
Portion Control Keep portion sizes no bigger than the palm of your child’s hand (this includes starches and desserts, too).
Try Something New Encourage kids to try new foods, especially vegetables – even just 1 bite of something new is a great effort, but half the plate is a good goal to work toward.
Avoid Sugary Drinks and Starchy Appetizers Avoid serving sweet beverages and bowls of chips or crackers. Encourage drinking water and arrange a tray of fresh veggies instead.
Keep Your Kids Active Physical activity each day helps children to sleep and eat better. Join them in a game of tag, turn on the music and dance or enlist their help in cleaning up after the big meal.
Being out of school for the holiday can affect your child’s eating schedule. With many yummy leftovers around the house, your child might want to snack more frequently than usual in between meals.
To teach portion control and explain why some foods are healthier than others, check out this list of 30 snacks under 200 calories. They are easy to prepare using ingredients you might already have on hand.
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