Teaching Children to Make “Healthy Choices”Teaching Children to Make “Healthy Choices”...
Transcript of Teaching Children to Make “Healthy Choices”Teaching Children to Make “Healthy Choices”...
Teaching Children to Make “Healthy Choices”
Empowering children through language
Foods Kids Choose If young children are taught early and practice healthy choices, they will
make better food choices as they grow up. Preschoolers, however, have
more decision-making power when requesting snacks than meals. Parents
usually decide what is served at meals and children are sometimes served
breakfast and/or lunch in preschool programs. Thus, snack times may be
eating occasions where children can ask for specific foods.
Language Matters While preschoolers may know and use the
term “healthy”, they cannot explain reasons
for choosing healthy foods or where they
get their ideas about health from1. They
have a tough time understanding complex
ideas such as “healthy” or “good” 2. Simple
terms like “good for you” can also be
confusing for a preschooler.
For example, to
the preschooler,
if a food tastes
good, the child
may consider it
to be “good”
despite its
nutritional value.
They don’t yet
understand the difference between “tastes
good” and “good for you”. Adults
understand the
difference based on
the setting in which it is
used. Therefore, using the terms 'good' and
'bad' to describe a food to a preschooler
should focus on taste, not nutritional value or
health.
The use of terms ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ can be taught using intentional language that is simple for young children.
• Healthy foods are foods that “help keep myheart, muscles and bones strong”.
• Unhealthy foods are foods that “do not helpkeep my heart, muscles and bones strong,even if they taste good”.
Eating Smart
An EEO/AA Institution
To help children select healthy foods, those that “help keep my heart, muscles and bones
strong”, it is recommended that parents and teachers use the National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute’s GO, SLOW and WHOA foods.
Teachers and families can strengthen the messages about “healthy” and “unhealthy” food by
repeating these phrases at home and in the classroom. There is a sense of pride and
ownership for children when they use words like “healthy” and “unhealthy” in which they
have learned the difference. They are more likely to use these terms and make choices
accordingly.
REFERENCES
1 J.D, L. (2011). The Substance and Sources of Young Children's Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Knowledge: Implications for Obesity
Prevention Efforts. 368-376.
2Charlesworth, R. (2004). Understanding Child Development. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Learning.
3Sigman-Grant, M., Byington, T. A., Lindsay, A. R., Lu, M., Mobley, A. R., Fitzgerald, N., & Hildebrand, D. (2017). Preschoolers Can
Distinguish between Healthy and Unhealthy Foods: The All 4 Kids study. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 121-127.