How do we teach children to make good food choices? A recent story on the ABC web site suggests that it is never too young to start talking to our kids about food labels and food advertising, and we agree.
So many food items are branded with television and movie characters - how do we teach our children not to fall for the marketing?
This was also on Nightline, which we missed, but we do love the idea that kids can go to an Ad Busters class and learn who targets them and why, along with the answers to questions like why Mac and Cheese is that bright orange color out of the box, and how eating fats affects your body.
What do you think? Would you send your kids to a class like this? Are you teaching your children to read food labels? How is that going - do you think they get it, or are they reaching for the Dora cookies?
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I think a class like this for older kids (maybe 8 and up) is a good idea so they get a sense of what they are really eating. For the younger ones, making responsible food choices begin by teaching them at home. If we don't have junk at home, he doesn't eat junk.
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I don't know about classes, but for the littlest guys, doing things like grocery shopping as a family outing ("everyone pick out one fruit and one vegetable you'd like to eat this week") is something my mother did that has lasted.
Also, having kids pick a kind of cereal from the top shelf at the store (the healthiest ones are usually there) is a good idea.
view lovelainie's profile