We had moms ask us to cover this topic: how to help kids eat healthy when all they want to do is snack.
Michael Johnson, M.D. from Families First Pediatrics offers some tips.
He says the big problem is food availability. Junk and processed food is so easy to prepare, and it's usually available to kids. Dr. Johnson recommends that parents simplify your pantry so that 80% of the food available is healthy. He says kids will whine and cry and complain that they're hungry, but that's ok as long as they're heating nourishing meals. He suggests limiting snacking options to carrot sticks, orange slices and apples. If kids say they're not hungry for those options, then they're not hungry. Dr. Johnson says you may want to put a lock on the pantry that only parents know, so that kids aren't constantly snacking.
He also says he sees a lot of parents with misconceptions about how their kids are eating. Many times parents think their kids aren't eating enough, but if they're growing normally and energetic they probably are. He says to watch eating habits day to day and week to week instead of meal to meal.
Families First Pediatrics is located at 1268 West South Jordan Parkway in South Jordan. (801) 254-9700.
You can find more information at:
http://www.ffpeds.com.
