Getting your young child to eat the right foods can be a battle. Whether they are picky eaters, eat too little, eat too much or only want to eat junk food, many families struggle with mealtime and getting all of the healthy foods from the plate to the stomach! Knowing the right nutrition information is only half of the effort, the other half is knowing how to motivate children to eat right every day.
On Tuesday, February 7, The Food Heroes Programme visited Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai to discuss family nutrition and how to establish healthy eating habits in children. Parents listened to a presentation by Kate Boe, a certified Health Coach, on ‘The Food Heroes’ nutrition programme which supports a diverse, high fruit and vegetable, fresh and local diet. Parents also played Food Heroes games, such as the ‘Eat A Rainbow’ flashcard game, to experience new ways to inspire their children to eat more fruit and vegetables.
The Food Heroes Programme takes best practice global health and nutrition standards and translates them into “bite-size” pieces of information, fun games and engaging activities. Food Heroes wants to make establishing healthy eating habits simple, fun and long-lasting. We aim to give parents the best nutrition advice and to give children games, activities and toys that will expose them to delicious natural foods and encourage them to eat more fresh, healthy food.
Food Heroes Healthy Food Tips
1. Reduce sugar consumption
Check drinks, sauces and yoghurts for hidden sugars! Many food items have a shockingly high sugar content. Sugar is
addictive for children and leads to obesity, hyperactivity and diabetes.
2. Eat meat as a condiment
Children only need about 18grams of protein per day. That is the equivalent of 3 chicken eggs or 50grams of chicken.
Eating too much meat establishes a bad habit that can cause health issues during adulthood. Increase the amount of
vegetables, whole grains (brown rice, millet, quinoa, etc.), and legumes on the plate and make meat a side dish.
3. Rely on dark green vegetables for calcium
Dark green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbages, kale and lettuces have more calcium than milk and dairy products. They
also provide essential nutrients, such as folate and iron, in addition to calcium.
Food Heroes loves attending workshops and events at Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai. Thank you to all the parents
who attended and to the administration for collaborating with us!
Food Heroes hosts regular events and workshops for parents and children; for more information on how to join and become
a Food Hero, go to www.foodheroes.org.
