• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Diet Food for Children

January 5, 2011 by ds_65371 Leave a Comment

When it comes to crafting a healthy diet for your child, focus on what she eats rather than how much. Subjecting children to a highly calorie-restrictive diet can have negative consequences, reports WebMD. To ensure that your efforts toward helping your child diet don’t have negative consequences, select an assortment of healthy foods to tempt his appetite instead of placing a cap on intake.

In Perfect Balance

Just as taking in too much fat can cause a child to gain weight, taking in too much of any food, no matter how nutritious, can prove unhealthy. When planning your child’s diet menu, ensure that it contains a balance of different nutritious foods instead of being dominated by one food type. To produce this balance, consider following the food pyramid eating suggestions as a reasonable dietary guide that describes how much of each nutritious food type children should consume each day.

Kid Pleasing Snacks

Many children’s after-school snacks consist of diet-wrecking, yet delicious foods like cookies and chips. Instead of cutting out snacking, replace these unhealthy foods with nutritious options. Swap the greasy chips for whole-grain pretzels and the cookies with apple slices to create an after-school snack that doesn’t undo their whole day.

Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and vegetables provide children with an array of healthy nutrients that keep their bodies functioning properly while not promoting fat development. Stock your fridge with a variety of fruits and vegetables, as your child will likely tire of eating the same ones over and over. Serve one fruit and one vegetable with each meal to ensure that your child eats these healthy food types. Dips, including nut butters, dressings, hummus and cream cheese, can make raw veggies more attractive.

Powerful Lean Proteins

Proteins are vital to your child’s bone and muscle development, reports KidsHealth. Instead of giving your child protein in the form of a cheeseburger or hot dog, select lean protein options for your dieting eater, including chicken, turkey and pork. Serve up a single serving of protein with each meal.

Whole Grain Goodness

Whole grains help your child’s digestive processes keep functioning properly. They are also harder for the body to digest, keeping your child full longer. Select cereals with whole grains as a healthy morning starter and replace your white breads with whole-grain options.

Healthy Drink Options

Many children take in excess calories and large quantities of sugar through the consumption of sodas and other sweetened drinks. Instead of pouring your child a cup of one of these less-than-nutritious drinks, encourage him to drink water, flavored teas, mineral water or reduced-sugar juices, as these drinks keep your child hydrated without adding inches to his waistline.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_65371

Erin Schreiner is a freelance writer and teacher who holds a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She has been actively freelancing since 2008. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. Her work appears on eHow, Trails.com and RedEnvelope. She currently teaches writing to middle school students in Ohio and works on her writing craft regularly.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

After seeing and holding the newest member of our family … [Read More...] about 20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

toddler hair growth

Toddler Hair Growth

Functions of Flour in Baking

What Are the Functions of Flour in Baking?

Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

The Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

signs of pregnancy

How Long Does It Take to Show Signs of Pregnancy?

What Can I Use as an Egg Substitute When Baking Corn Bread

What Can I Use as an Egg Substitute When Baking Corn Bread?

Academic Parental Pressure on Kids

The Effects of Academic Parental Pressure on Kids

Refrigerate Fresh Lemon Juice

How Long Can You Refrigerate Fresh Lemon Juice?

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.