Cravings for unhealthy snacks always seem to come unexpectedly. Although you may feel good after eating a nice meal, you may still find it almost impossible to resist the temptation of having a bowl of ice cream. While treating yourself from time to time is perfectly okay, you may encounter a bigger problem if those occasional unhealthy snacks turn into binges. This is bad for your health and doesn’t help set a good example for your kids.
11 Ways To Avoid Unhealthy Snacks And Set A Good Example For Your Kids
Parents are role models, meaning children will often build their eating habits by watching what their parents eat every day. In this article, you will find eleven valuable ways to avoid eating unhealthy snacks and help your kids build a healthy relationship with food.
Plan Your Meals In Advance
It might be helpful to plan your meals for the day or week to reduce stress and ensure you have plenty of healthy options when hunger strikes. This means you won’t need to worry about what you and your family will eat. Eliminating the factor of spontaneity reduces the chance that you will go for unhealthy snacks, as you will be less likely to experience cravings. In addition, if everyone in your family eats the same foods, it will be easier to prepare healthy family meals.
Increase Your Fibre Intake
Many don’t eat enough fiber daily, quickly increasing our cravings for unhealthy foods. However, plenty of ways to increase your fiber intake include adding weight-loss shakes to your diet. Shake That Weight can help you achieve your weight loss target and get various critical nutrients, including fiber, casein, whey protein, and calcium. Mixing your diet shake with water for a balanced snack is easy and ideal for increasing your energy when you feel sluggish in the middle of the day.
Eat Mindfully
Mindful eating involves practicing mindfulness when it comes to food. It is a great way to become aware of your eating habits and teach your kids to eat in moderation. You will be able to notice your cravings, hunger cues, and other physical sensations. As a result, you can learn how to differentiate between hunger and cravings. Instead of acting impulsively, you will have the time to choose how you respond when you want to reach for an unhealthy snack. This way, you can avoid distractions, such as watching TV or checking your social media, and focus on spending quality time with your family.
Consider Your Trigger Foods
If you have plenty of unhealthy foods within easy reach, resisting temptation will be much more challenging. Therefore, removing unhealthy snacks from visible areas in your house, such as your kitchen or desk, can be beneficial. However, this doesn’t mean you can never have any treats in your home. Instead, choose snacks that are easier to manage and eliminate trigger foods. For example, if you know that cookies are your trigger food, keep them away.
Stay Hydrated
At times, you may feel hungry when you are thirsty. This confusion can lead to consuming more calories than you need and eating unhealthy foods. Next time you crave a specific food, drink a large glass of water. Wait a few minutes to determine if the craving has gone away. Moreover, staying hydrated can provide various benefits, as it can reduce cravings and help you lose weight. Also, remember to get your kids to drink more water and stay healthy.
Create A Positive Relationship With Food
Children can quickly pick up cues from their parents, so improving your relationship with food is crucial. You can set an example by choosing healthy foods you want your child to eat more. If your kid sees you enjoying these foods, they are likelier to make the same choices. Talk to your kids about hunger cues and satiety and explain how they can determine if they are hungry or full. Be sure to discuss why you eat certain foods, such as vegetables.
Cook With Your Kids
Remember to get your kids involved in the process of preparing healthy meals. This can be an excellent opportunity to talk about food and get your kids to develop healthy eating habits. Consequently, this will make healthy foods more familiar to kids. Once you have finished cooking, you should encourage your kids to try what they have cooked. For example, an easy way to get the whole family is to make oatmeal, allowing everyone to choose the ingredients and toppings they like, such as fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds.
Avoid Using Food As A Reward
When encouraging your kids to eat healthily, you may be tempted to use foods like candy or chocolate as a reward. While this strategy may work short-term, it can damage their relationship with food as they grow up. Using unhealthy food as a reward makes kids want it even more, making them feel like they need to work hard for dessert. Moreover, you may give them dessert every night, which won’t be good for their health. Instead, focus on offering them healthy snacks without pressure.
Eat Together
Another fantastic way to show kids your love for healthy food is to eat together at least once daily. It is essential to create a pleasant atmosphere so children can associate food with pleasure and happiness. This will also allow you to spend quality time with your family and discuss fun things over dinner. Remember to listen to your child and respond to their needs. For example, if they tell you they are hungry, ensure you offer them healthy snacks, even if it’s not time for dinner.
Prepare Kid-Friendly Healthy Snacks
There are many ways to prepare nutritious snacks that your kids will love. Looking at these toddler lunch ideas, you can see countless options. Be sure to look for energy-boosting recipes to bridge the gap before dinnertime. For example, you can make a batch of chickpea fritters or prepare healthy oatmeal cookies. You can also use any leftovers for breakfast or put them in your kids’ lunchboxes as a nice treat. Be sure to go grocery shopping with your kids to learn more about nutrition. Talking about fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains will make them see the importance of healthy eating.
Let Go Of Perfection
Lastly, it’s important to remember that not every meal or snack has to be perfectly balanced. Teach your kids that they can occasionally indulge by having a pizza night or enjoying a piece of cake at a friend’s birthday party.
Ways To Avoid Unhealthy Snacks
Be sure to pay attention to portions and frequency. Promoting open communication is one of the best ways to excite kids about healthy food. Instead of making everything perfect, show your kids the joy of preparing food and caring for your body.
