“A habit is something you can do without
thinking-
Which is why most of us have so many of
them.”
-FRANK. A.CLARK
We
all are slaves to our habit. Some we are able to overcome some we cannot. Some habits are good and some are bad, and
they are formed early in childhood. We as parents (I too have a three year old
son), try our best to make sure are children cultivate good habits which will
make them what they are. We inspire them to read, be punctual, responsible. We
instill the sense of cleanliness in them so that being clean becomes their
habit. We want our children t learn all good habits and we try to shun them away
from the bad ones but when it comes to the habit of healthy dietary choices we
ourselves tend to drive on the wrong side.
Most
of my clients involve patients and they often, actually usually, in fact all
the time complain that kids don’t like vegetables or fruits or rice and milk
etc. I give them guidelines on how they can add these un-likeable foodstuffs in
their child’s diet and at times counsel children. If our children don’t like
food cooked at home or are not big on salads and vegetables then we, as parents
are the ones to blame. We our solely responsible for this preference they have
cultivated. Parents are children’s foremost role models. They see us and behave
exactly the way we do.
We
want our children to drink milk but do we ever drink milk with our children .We
go out for dinners or parties, we pick up colas, soft drinks we never order milk
shakes or fruit-juices. We ramble to our children about all the good virtues of
milk but never drink it. If mama doesn’t
drink milk, papa doesn’t drink milk then why should they?
Try this little trick. Every time you want
your child to drink milk, make two mugs of milk and sit with him and say, “Let’s
share a yummy glass of milk.” This
definitely works all the time and the two of you will develop the habit of
sharing a glass full of health. I say two of you as drinking milk is equally
important for adults as for children. Calcium and vitamin D packed with other
vital nutrients, milk is nectar for good health. While dining out purposely
choose to order milk shakes or yoghurts or custards for yourself and your child
emphasizing how milk is a super food it is. You won’t lose anything by this
behavior modification but only gain, a good habit, for yourself and your child.
As parents we are pressed with the great duty
of disciplining our child and we all do it very well. We all have our methods and views on this
particular topic but most of us rely on the reward and punishment technique. We
often punish them for their wrong behavior and reward for the good ones. Now in
this discipline regime we unknowingly promote unhealthy foodstuffs to our
children. We cajole our children into
doing something we want by using phrases like, “If you be a good boy in front
of the guest, mama will take you out to a pizzeria” or “If my princess lets
daddy complete his work he will buy her a box full of her favorite chocolate.”
I m sure all
of you must have done something like this at some point in time. We might have
achieved what we intended but at same time we impress their naïve minds with
the idea that if you do something good you get the “good things” like pizzas,
chips cookies and chocolates etc. try a bunch of grapes or a carrots or glass
of juice or a handful of nuts next time you want to reward your child’s good
behavior. Psychology considers children to be “tabula rasa”
meaning a blank slate. According to this theory, children are not born with any
preconceived mental content or ideas; they learn them through their experiences
and perceptions of the world. Therefore, nurturing of your child plays a
significant role on his or her overall personality and self. To simply put it, they didn’t know that
chocolates or pizzas or chips are good things we taught them all by ourselves.
Even if we are not parents, we may be loving
aunts and uncles, or caring grandparents, or just concerned friends but we too
encourage unhealthy eating habits in children. Don’t be an aunt that carries a
bag full of cookies or an uncle with pockets full of candies. Next time you
visit any child and you want to shower your love, take a gift of healthy habit
with basket full of health. Use your love to teach them something they will be
grateful all their life; A habit of healthy eating.
Take your children with you to buy
groceries, allow them to pick up foods and replace any unwanted foodstuff
giving them reasons for doing so. Encourage them to eat food with the family on
the table and insist of eating whatever is cooked. Children often feel hungry
after playing or studying and it is advisable to eat something every 2-3 hours.
Between meals snacks can be switched from biscuits or chips to a whole fruit
like banana or apple or vegetables like tomato or cucumber or carrots. Just cut
them and serve in a plate. Another hassle free snack can be mix bowl of some
raisins, almonds and walnuts. If there is time and preparing a snack is not a
hassle then you can make bread pizzas with lot of vegetables, sandwiches,
soups, smoothies, shakes, cornflakes or oats anything that is convenient and
will delight your child.
These are some great ways to cultivate a
habit of choosing healthy foods. At the
same time we want our children, I too want them to enjoy chocolates and chips
and cakes and cookies. It’s okay to let them indulge sometimes. You decide for
yourself how and when that will be but keep in mind when you present these
treats it should not be inform of a reward or as a fancy or superior food.
To conclude, our children are the reflection
of our love and nurturing. Reform your
habits before you start forming theirs. Giving them a habit of healthy eating
will be wonderful bequest supporting them throughout their lives. As wise men have said, health is the greatest
of all wealth.
“Clamp up the good,
sever the bad,
Be right in your
choice, dear Lad,
Making thy fine habit,
For
it stays, even if only a bit”
To healthy living!!
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