One of the most common challenges families face is trying to get children to enjoy a variety of healthy food. According to a 2018 YouGovGalaxy study, parents list “eating more vegetables” as the healthy food behavior they would most like to see their children adopt. And for good reason. In Australia, for example, 95 percent of children don’t eat the recommended five servings of veggies a day.
What are the barriers to healthy eating?
Most of us have had the “eat more vegetables” message drummed into us since primary school, so why aren’t we eating better?
One of the most significant barriers identified by dietitians is a relatively obvious one—dietary preference. In the hyper-speed of modern life, convenience is also a barrier. Busy families need food to be fast—fast to prepare, fast to eat, with as little mess as possible. So, how can healthier food options possibly compete with discretionary foods (aka junk food) that tick the box on taste (hello salt, added sugar, and saturated fat), speed, and ease? What skills do families need to overcome these barriers to healthy eating that threaten our potential to live long and healthy lives?
Making whole foods easier and more enjoyable
That’s the motivation behind 12 before 12, a new Sanitarium initiative that aims to bring families together at mealtimes and teach kids how to make healthy eating easier and more enjoyable.
Sanitarium has partnered with dietitian Themis Chryssidis and Masterchef™ fan-favorite Callum Hann from South Australia’s acclaimed Sprout Cooking School to identify 12 food skills to help children shop, prep, cook, and eat their way to a healthier life. It aims to empower primary-school-aged children around food selection and meal preparation. The initiative challenges the children to learn these 12 food skills before they turn 12 years old.
To learn more about the 12 skills and to download a free digital copy of the 12 before 12 cookbooks, visit 12before12.sanitarium.com.au.
Tips for healthier kids’ diets
Teach essential food skills. Food preparation and cooking skills are key ingredients in nutrition education. Teaching children essential food skills should go alongside physical activity as a priority for every parent—and it can be lots of fun too!
Prioritize family meals. Family mealtimes are an important opportunity for parents to model healthier eating behaviors and provide children with a much-needed opportunity to reconnect after a busy day at school and play.
The big picture. Rather than looking at food through the lens of nutrients or kilojoules—the micro detail of what we’re eating—keep sight of the big-picture behaviors that make healthy eating intuitive.
This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record