5 A Day is a slogan put out by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It suggests that eating five portions of fruits & vegetables every day will lead to a healthier life.This sounds great in theory, but turns out to be hard in practice, especially when we try to implement it for our children.
Imagine a day in a child’s life – from their waking moment to the time they close their eyes to sleep. Besides the CDC’s 5 A Day program, I don’t know anyone else speaking about healthy eating for children. I don’t hear any radio commercials about a healthy diet for children or fruits and vegetables as part of their daily nutrition. 5 A Day is a CDC slogan that in reality is very impractical to incorporate into our lives.
So what do we do about the increase in childhood obesity and all the health issues that children face these days? Autism, allergies, skin issues, weak immune systems – the list goes on and on. In the beginning, there was “the pregnant mom”. It is fully understood that healthy eating for children begins in the womb. Whatever foods mom is attracted to consistently throughout the pregnancy, the child is more likely to gravitate to after birth.
We all know how important fruits and vegetables are, especially for the children we’re raising, but it can be so hard to make them a priority. Children follow their parents’ example. Starting putting your health, and that of your children, before what’s “easy” and your kids will soon too.
A balanced meal through mother’s milk would support a stronger immunesystem and minimize doctor visits and illnesses. Eating healthy meals in this way builds children’s immune systems before birth, but also gives children the ability to accept healthier meals after birth.
Having kids is hard. It changes our lives in so many ways. Instead of keeping healthy eating a priority, it is something that falls by the wayside for so many busy families. We seem to forget how important healthy eating really is – for ourselves and our children.
It is way too easy to let bad habits continue. After all, breaking them is hard, especially when both parents are working and the kids’ calendars are filled with activities. But it is worth it. Make healthy eating a priority in your home, not just something you try, but something you do!
With two parents working to support the family, it is even more difficult to control what children eat throughout the day. Bad habits set in and become normal, slowly consuming children’s health. Children eat fast foods, even come to school with it, because it is convenient for parents. We teach children that this is normal. Fast food should be eaten on rare occasions only and not be served on a regular basis.
Healthy eating is not a fad. It is not to be a once in a while treat. 5 A Day and eating healthy must become a habitual part of our lifestyle. Ultimately, our health and our quality of life depend on it. When we choose healthy eating and healthy living, we extend our quality of life and extend our ability to live a normal life. All of this starts with a simple change in our eating habits.
If we can’t incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives, we are going to have a very difficult time repairing all the damage caused by our actions. Fruits and veggies play a big role in keeping our bodies’ cells healthy and in neutralizing the free radicals in our bodies. 5 A Day should not just be a slogan, it is a fact. Making five servings of fruits and vegetable a regular part of our lives leads to healthier parents, children, and families.
