Health & Fitness Blog

For years, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has encouraged people to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This is definitely something to strive for, but how many of us can actually do it? And how many more of us can get our kids to do it?

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.

Everyone has a great understanding about fruit and vegetable nutrition and their benefits for children; however, many don’t place importance on developing good eating habits throughout pregnancy. We talk about supplements and specific foods that are important to eat for a healthy child’s development, but we never educate pregnant moms on healthy, balanced and nutritious meals. If we did so, then the milk produced by the mother would be so much more balanced and rich in disease-preventing, immune-building essentials.

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.

Limit your trips to fast food restaurants. No more eating on the go! These “quick fixes” at dinner time do more harm than good. Too often we justify them because of the time they save, but in the long run, shortening our lives and compromising our health is not what we want for us or our kids.

For example, fast food and eating on the go are more convenient. We ignore the fact that they cause damage to our own bodies and to the welfare of our children. Instead of us instilling good eating habits in our children, we take shortcuts, dropping by for a sausage and egg biscuit on the way to work or picking up pizza for dinner. I understand that most of us are always on the go and it is difficult to cook meals regularly. But there are tons and tons of activities we choose over spending time in the kitchen.

So what solutions are available to us? First, although it is often hard to cook meals regularly, we need to recognize the importance of doing it anyway. Fixing a good healthy meal at home puts the control in our hands and enables us to give our kids the 5 A Day they need. Take an inventory of all the things you choose to do rather than eat at home. You may be able to find a way to make some time – for the good of your family.

Don’t wait too long, though. The longer it takes you to take this step, the harder it is to fix the damage done. But don’t despair! Fruits and veggies are significant in keeping our bodies healthy and can certainly help to recover at least some of the health that may have been lost so far.

Be consistent about eating healthy and your kids will learn to accept 5 A Day as normal, not just something to do every few months when mom or dad go on a fad diet. Make eating healthy a habit. A healthy diet is worth it in the long run for the children and mom and dad too. It brings a better quality of life and may even extend your lives. So start with 5 A Day, “the healthy way” for you and your children, and you’ll be on your way. Make it more than just a slogan for your family!

Tony Khatemi with 25 years in the field of exercise, nutrition and healthy living focused on digestive health. Living by example is his motto. Pickup a free reports on fruits and vegetable capsules . for the most natural and effective supplements in the world. Please type IBD, IBS, Crohn’s or any GIIBD, IBS, Crohn’s or any GI related disease in the search box for results.