Raising Healthy Eaters In Singapore – 7 Dos & Don’ts To Follow!

Parents must build a strong foundation for their child’s development from having good manners to practicing good hygiene and everything else in between. The same goes for building healthy eating habits. 

Having good nutrition at a young age is a key building block that will set children up for success. Not only does this help children maintain a healthy immune system but it also plays an important part in keeping them sharp in the major developmental years of their lives. 

Despite this, it often goes overlooked and that needs to change. Here are 7 do’s and don’ts to keep in mind to raise a healthy and happy eater at home!  

7 Do & Don’ts Of Raising Healthy Eaters In Singapore

1. Do: Introduce a Variety of Foods Early

One of the greatest benefits of exposing children to a variety of different foods at a young age is that they’re more likely to develop a more balanced diet as they grow older. 

This allows them to broaden their palette and become more open to trying new foods. At the same time, this also ensures they’ll eat everything you prepare for them. 

While it’s not ideal, being a picky eater is a common phase in a child’s development that most parents would have to face. In the beginning, some may be more sensitive to and overstimulated by certain tastes, textures, and smells. Despite this, there are tons of ways to introduce a variety of foods to them. 

For instance, some easy-to-prepare snacks include low-fat yoghurt, peanut butter with celery, and protein-rich options such as fish, eggs, and beans. 

Who said eating healthy had to be boring?

2. Don’t: Use Food as a Reward or Punishment

While most parents believe that using food as a reward or punishment is an effective way to encourage their children to accept certain foods, it actually does more harm than good and is more problematic than we think. 

This can negatively affect our children’s relationship with food in the long run and even make them dislike certain foods even more. When disciplining a child, there are a bunch of alternatives out there to using food as a reward or punishment. 

Instead, use praise and encouragement. Parents need to be mindful of the language used around their children as this is what sticks with them. Always use positive language and reinforcement when having conversations centred around food.

Eating healthy should be fun for them; not associated with a negative experience.

3. Do: Involve Children in Meal Planning and Preparation

Kids are naturally curious and love being involved in a bunch of different things around them. Believe it or not, they are more interested in the meal planning and preparation process than we think. All parents need to do is ask. 

While it’s important to ensure safety when children are in the kitchen, there are still a ton of age-appropriate tasks parents can assign to their kids to make meal prep a fun experience for all. 

This includes measuring dry ingredients with measuring cups when baking, decorating cookies, stirring ingredients together, whisking eggs, washing produce, simple sauteeing on a pan, and so much more. The possibilities are endless! 

If the kids make a mess, then let them make a mess. At the end of the day, having children involved in the kitchen is a valuable way to learn about the importance of eating healthy. 

4. Don’t: Keep Unhealthy Snacks Readily Available

Keeping a healthy food environment at home is just as important as maintaining healthy eating habits. Whatever is readily available and always at their disposal is what they will naturally gravitate towards. That’s why stocking healthy, nutritious snacks and minimising junk food is essential. 

Some easy snacks to keep at home include sliced fruit and dip, oatmeal, whole grain crackers, granola bars, rice cakes, and more. 

5. Do: Set a Good Example

Whether with food or in life, parents need to set a good example for their children. Whatever kids see every day is what they’ll follow. 

That’s why having regular meal times and practising balanced eating is key in every household. 

By eating fruits and vegetables regularly and avoiding excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, you’ll be sending the right message.

6. Do: Encourage Self-Regulation

It’s 2024; time to get rid of the pressure aimed towards children during mealtimes. 

This pressure could come from parents forcing their kids to finish their food using bribes or threats, or offering them the same food over and over again and expecting them to finish.

This can become harmful in the long run as it may affect their ability to differentiate fullness and hunger, resulting in undereating or overeating. 

Instead, we should encourage mindful eating and avoid the pressure to overeat altogether. Adults and children alike are intuitive eaters. It’s important to listen to our bodies and listen to our children when their bodies are sending them a message.

7. Do: Educate About Nutrition and Healthy Choices

It’s not enough to feed kids healthy food, involve them in the mealtime prep and expose them to healthy foods. It’s vital to make them understand why. 

By teaching kids about the benefits of different foods and their nutritional value through age-appropriate explanations, they’ll understand why it’s important and encourage them to make healthy eating choices on their own. 

We are committed to your child’s holistic growth

At AIS, we are here through every step of your child’s journey—through their education and even with their eating habits through early childhood.

By investing in the best possible international school education for your child, you are also investing in their success. 

Book a tour with us to see the AIS experience today!