Ask An Expert: Giving Picky Eaters Healthy Food
Dr. Michael Greger
Humane Society of the United States
700 Professional Dr.
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
(301) 258-3100
www.humanesociety.org
www.nutritionfacts.org
Dr. Greger is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. He is also the founding member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He is a physician, author and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety and public health issues. He has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, testified before Congress, appeared on "The Dr. Oz Show" and "The Colbert Report," and was an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the "meat defamation" trial. Currently, Dr. Greger serves as the Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States and the founder of NutritionFacts.org, a nutrition information website with hundreds of videos available for free.
Get Rid Of The Junk and Offer Healthy Snacks If it isn't in the house, children and their parents are less likely to indulge in unhealthy foods. Empty-calorie foods like sugary beverages and highly processed foods don't provide the nutrition necessary for growing children. All these items do is contribute to childhood obesity. In regards to after-school snacks, instead of greasy potato chips, have a tray of freshly cut vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator ready to go.
Leave The "Clean The Plate" Club Teach your children to listen to their natural hunger and fullness cues. Overeating just to clean a plate does not save children in some other country. It just produces unnecessary feelings of guilt and encourages overeating, which leads to obesity. If your child doesn't want to finish his or her meal now, wrap it up and save it for later for when the child is hungry. Promising dessert as a reward only encourages overeating and makes unhealthy foods appear more desirable.
Involve Your Children In Shopping And Food PreparationFun outdoor activities like going to the Dallas Farmers Market and shopping for fresh produce is a good way to introduce healthy foods. Even tending to a small garden at home or in your community will open your child to the wonder of how food is grown. Invite your children to participate in menu planning and cooking. Small children can wash produce and put pre-cut or measured ingredients and stir items in a bowl. These experiential lessons will go a long way in building healthy habits.
