In today's hyper hygienic world, many parents douse their kids in antibacterial gel at the sight of dirty hands, but research has shown that letting your kids get dirty is actually healthy. Soil exposure increases serotonin, which is a natural antidepressant that makes us happier — plus it strengthens the immune system. Encourage your child to help out in the garden or create a dirt track with their favorite toy trucks and cars.
"Eat the healthy foods that you want your children to eat yourselves. If you're eating a big salad with dinner every night, your children will be more likely to eat it, too," says Eve Kecskes, M.S., R.D.
Don't offer dessert as a reward for eating vegetables, for example. "Dessert is OK in moderation and shouldn't be used as a reward if you want to develop healthy eating habits," Kecskes says.
"Don't make a big deal when your child doesn't finish the fruits and veggies on their plate, " advises Kecskes, saying this will make them less likely to eat them. "Instead, just continue to offer the foods and let your child choose if and how much they will eat." Also, make a variety of fruits and vegetables available, as well as juices that are 100 percent fruit.
The saying "garbage in, garbage out" holds true for the human body, says Dr. Perry Wolk-Weiss, author of Ten Commandments for a Healthy Lifestyle. "Studies demonstrate that children who consume more plant-based, organic foods develop healthier, stronger immune systems. When our children don't eat fruits and vegetables and instead are fed junk food, the groundwork may be laid for cancer, diabetes and other diseases down the road," he says.
"Many children are not getting as much vitamin D as they need due to the use of sunscreens and reduction of sun exposure, Wolk-Weiss says. "Consequences of vitamin D deficiency are asthma, muscle weakness, and increased risk of infections and autoimmune disorders." He also says, "Supplementation with a liquid form of vitamin D3 is easy and tasteless for kids."
Another easy fix is to incorporate vitamin D and calcium fortified juices into their diet.
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