It’s that time of year again to make new year’s resolutions!! You might have a long list of goals for the next year, and with renewed enthusiasm and determination, you are ready to work on them, right? But take another look at your list and see if any of your goals would benefit the environment in any way. Have you vowed to use less plastic this year? or a goal to teach your children about sustainability in their everyday lives?
If you haven’t already done so, you still have time to make a goal to save our planet. Consuming nutritious and organic food is another important responsibility. You may be a health-conscious individual who has already adopted an organic diet, but if you have children, you should consider implementing the organic healthy eating plan for them as well.
Continue reading because there is a lot in this post that will help your children start the new year with fresh motivation and develop new healthy eating habits.
First, consider why it is crucial to start eating nutritious and organic foods at an early age. We will talk about the most common unhealthy food choices people make and how those decisions are silently affecting their children.
Avoid BPA:
Simply ensure that every item you purchase is BPA-free. When the chemicals in the plastic container transfer to the food it contains, this is referred to as plastic leaching. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hazardous chemical that is commonly used in the production of plastic goods. BPA has been linked to a variety of health problems, including childhood asthma, type 2 diabetes, infertility, and heart disease. Avoid using standard plastic water or milk bottles, instead, use BPA-free bottles or reusable items
Processed foods:
We are becoming so busy with our lives that cooking nutritious dishes looks to be a time-consuming task. As a result, many turn to instant foods or UPFs (Ultra Processed Foods), which are quick to prepare and appear to be tasty.
But always check the ingredient list on the items; if you don’t know them and think they are the names of lab-created substances, rethink purchasing them.
Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression are just a few of the problems associated with highly processed foods.
Yes, buying organic foods is an expensive choice, but when you consider the long-term implications of eating unhealthy meals, you will realize that buying organic foods is worthwhile.
Chemical fertilizers:
Companies use chemical and toxic fertilizers to mass-produce fruits and vegetables, but how those dangerous chemicals damage our bodies in the long term is still a debate. Find out more about the health issues related to harmful fertilizers in our article.
Create a routine.
Kids need a routine; it teaches them discipline and prevents them from arguing about performing the task when they know it is already planned for them. For example, make it a rule that every Monday they must eat a vegetable salad; make it consistent that they do so. If you feel they’re becoming bored of it and you’re going to modify anything, let them know ahead of time.
Be a role model:
They will not listen if you tell them what to do, but if you eat in front of them, they will copy you. It is great if you eat salad or any other nutritious meal that you want your children to eat first.
Make eating enjoyable:
Children are drawn to fun things, therefore if you make the meal fun, they will be attracted to it. For example, you might design charming faces and crafts and invite children to help you. Here are few lovely ideas to get you started on some food crafts.
Involve them in cooking and gardening activities:
Participation in any project would spark their curiosity. Kids like helping you in the kitchen, so include them in the food preparation process; they will enjoy eating what they create. It is not just good for cooking, but if you have some plants and a home garden, letting kids water them or clean that area is also a good idea.
Prepare and freeze meals for later use:
Fix a time to prepare and freeze meals, if you are a working parent or caregiver, or if you simply want to save a couple of hours from your daily routine. For instance, set aside Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to only prepare meals. This will be useful to you in the coming days. You can freeze some cooked meals for a month; just do some study on the types of foods that will last a long time in the freezer.
Let them choose:
You have probably heard it a thousand times: including children in the discussion improves their decision-making abilities. It is not only beneficial to their personality development, but it also makes them feel responsible. Always give children healthy options, such as asking whether they want soup or baked fish for dinner. They are much less likely to decline food at the dinner table because it was their choice.
Tell them the benefit and harms
Growing your own food is a fantastic idea, but it is obviously not practical for everyone, and you cannot grow everything at home. So, how do you teach children about organic and healthy eating? The best way to do this is to take them to food shopping and explain why you are selecting certain products. The more you include kids in healthy eating, the more likely it is that they will adopt the habit.
Green Schools Green Future teaches children how to live a sustainable lifestyle. Try to contribute to the betterment of the planet this year. Our children are our future; educate them how to be responsible global citizens, how to reduce their carbon footprint, and why eating nutritious, organic, chemical-free food is not only beneficial for them, but also for our planet.
Written By Samreen Ishaq
