Encouraging healthy eating habits as a parent is fundamental and can be fun. As you know, healthy teeth and bones are one of the key benefits of eating healthy. As a parent, your goal is to be a role model and make sure the diet includes vegetables, fruit, protein, dairy, and fun. Repeat to yourself that eating healthy can be fun!
Here is how to have fun:
Our three main tips are cooking together, planting a garden, and offering healthy snacks.
Cooking Together
Cooking together is a great way to spark a child’s curiosity. You will create a lifelong learner who is more open to trying new foods and understanding how some food can help keep their teeth clean. Push your children to learn by including them in the grocery shopping. Your curious child will also thrive by taking part in planting a garden together.
Planting a Garden
Planting a garden together allows your child to explore eating raw vegetables. For example, carrots and celery act like nature’s toothbrush because they improve saliva flow, wash bacteria away, and remove stuck food like a toothbrush. Besides what you can grow in your garden, there are other options. Keep reading to learn about what to eat.
Snacks
We recommend limiting the number of snacks because of the acid attacks on tooth enamel, so consider teeth-friendly options when it’s time to snack. If the potato chip is your child’s favorite, include the carrot to help remove chips from the teeth. Make sure the healthier option is just as convenient as the potato chip. Cut up some veggies and repeat that eating healthy can be fun.
Learn more about Diet and Children’s Oral Health
Here is what to eat:
As your child works through their growth stages, you can use MyPlate’s website, created by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, as a guideline. So what is on the list?
Fruits and vegetables sit at the top of the list:
Fruits and Vegetables should be at least half of what your child eats every day.
Eating Grains is important:
Grains include whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, and brown rice.
Drink or eat your dairy.
There are lots of different types of milk to choose from. There are lots of different kinds of cheese to choose from. Enjoy.
Lean proteins.
Lean meats such as lean beef, skinless poultry, and fish are a great source of protein. Your child can get many of their vitamins and minerals from Poultry. Poultry is a good source of selenium, vitamins B3 and B6, and choline. Your list can also include eggs, beans, peas, and legumes.
Strong & healthy teeth
Stong, healthy teeth are essential so a child can chew their food, speak properly, and maintain a wonderful smile. Maintaining strong and healthy teeth requires eating a healthy diet. A healthy diet is essential for a child’s growth and development. Continue to floss every day and brush those teeth twice per day.