Clean eating is a healthy way to eat when followed and most parents would love for their children to eat the same way. There are parents out there who raise their children to eat in a strict manner such as raising them vegan or vegetarian.
Monitoring Your Kid's Diet
Almost all parents monitor their children's food intake on some level. Too much sugar is usually a no-no in most households. However, there are parents who are much more strict and notify their family, friends, and neighbors of what their kids can and can't eat.
Kids being kids will probably do their best to sneak in a treat or two when you're not looking. It is even tougher when kids are in school and tempted to eat the candy and other treats their classmates are eating. Times like these are probably when you hope that your children will remember what you have taught them about eating healthy foods.
Letting Your Kids Decide What to Eat
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I've witnessed on many occasions (while dining out) where a parent will ask their children what they wish to eat. Personally, I think that is cool because you let a child make their own decision. However, it also depends on what you are offering as a choice. I've heard parents ask if their kid wants 7-Up or Sprite. I have also met children who have said that they are not allowed to drink soda or eat meat, etc.
Some kids will make certain food choices because they were raised that way while other kids will not think twice about eating a bag of chips and drinking a soda.
As a parent, do you raise your children to eat clean or do you allow them to eat the way they want?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I do both. When we’re at home, I serve my 4-year-old mostly salads, chicken or fish, and lots of fresh fruit. But when we do go out to eat, it’s on those occasions that I allow her to decide what she would like to eat, and most of the time she orders chicken strips and a dessert. She rarely eats half of her plate, and we take the rest home. If she doesn’t eat it by the next day, we dump it out and go back to our normal routine. The one thing I do refuse to allow her to eat is fast food, however. All in all, I think it’s about being balanced, eating healthy food 95% of the time and allowing the little indulgences here and there. It is my hope that as she grows older, she’ll recognize how eating healthy food makes her feel good, and when she’s presented with the temptations to eat junk food, she can decide for herself whether it’s good time to treat herself or to decline.
I agree for the most part. I have 5 children and we eat healthy at home and love to prepare and eat meals together. “Its ALL about the food!” is our motto. They know whats healthy and whats not. But they (we) all enjoy a treat now and then. When we go out to eat or to a party the kids can choose what they want with some limitations. Ex. if they want a soda, thats fine, but no Grandioso sizes and thats instead of a dessert.
Our kids love orange soda, and red soda…. which is seltzer with OJ and red soda is seltzer and cranberry juice. Its all about the choices!