Food is an indispensable component of our
life and the basis of our health. It is not only
responsible for the nourishment of our body
and mind but even that of our personality. Our
basic food habits are developed in childhood and
persist throughout our life. The initial meal of
every infant is milk but once he becomes 5 to 6
months old, he is initiated into eating and from
then begins the process of taking food and the
development of his eating habits.
Usually, taste becomes the basis of food selection.
So, the tastier the food, the more it is preferred.
The desire for taste has led to the invention of
various dishes, cuisines and cooking practices
and with time, various experiments and changes
have been incorporated into it. This diversity
of taste has brought about many changes in our
eating habits. These changes had the primary
bearing on our health, especially that of the
children. Therefore, it is immensely important
that our eating habits should not only be based on
taste, but also be beneficial for our health.
Even adults do not observe restraint when it
comes to taste, then the case of children is even
worse. They tempt for flavors and crave to taste
them. So, today it has become a challenge for the
parents to control the eating habits of children in
time and keep up their health. They make every
possible effort for the health of their young ones,
yet under the influence of modern lifestyle, their
health is constantly deteriorating. By the time
the children become wise and conscious about
health, they had already lost it substantially.
Many of them become premature victims of
various diseases and the reason is - faulty food
habits. In some instances, health may be restored
by rectifying the mistakes. But, there are certain
diseases like diabetes, which may create health
issues for whole life in varying proportions.
It is important for people of every age group to
improve their eating habits because habits can be
modified any time, if one so resolves. However,
it is not easy to bring changes in the childhood
habits. Therefore, it is very essential to improve
the eating habits while one is still in the formative
years. Nevertheless, the food taken in childhood
forms the basic foundation of our physical
health. This is because this is the stage of rapid
physical growth and it plays the most crucial role
in providing nutrition to the body. If healthful
nutritional elements are taken at this stage, then
the body becomes amazingly energetic, balanced,
well-formed and healthy.
The eating habits of children are a cause of concern
in every family because even after repeatedly
insisting on them to eat fruits and vegetables
they do not do so but remain adamant for junk
food. This is a common trend among the children.
Further, as they grow up, their insistence and the
selection of eatables tend to become even more
worrying. Though parents are concerned about
this, but after a time they become helpless and the
consequence is that in the long term these small
habits lead to diseases. Therefore, it is essential
for us to be aware of our eating habits timely and
carefully observe the young ones for this.
Children themselves may neither be conscious
of their health nor do they understand the risks
associated with wrong food habits. They
only bother about the taste. Thus, the primary
responsibility of preventing them from moving
on the path of ailments lies on their parents.
It is essential to timely bring changes in their
eating habits, while also keeping taste in mind.
For this, it is essential to acquaint them with
the important facts related to food. They should
be told that which food nourishes our health
and which food stuff makes us ill and prone to
diseases, so that they can know and understand
the impact of food in their lives.
The endorsement in advertisements and imitation
of others are also the factors which promote
the consumption of non-nutritious food. This
becomes the chief cause of obesity in them and
also proves detrimental for their health. Thus it is
extremely important to prevent this distortion in
their food habits.
As far as possible, the habit of eating homemade
food should be inculcated in children and they
should also be told about its benefits. Experts
believe that their eating habits substantially
impact their behaviour. Moreover, distortion in
eating becomes a chief reason of unsystematic
routine, due to which the body gets complex
diseases, which are not easily curable.
Children learn by observing and imitating others.
So, in order to change their eating habits, firstly,
the elders of the family and those coming in their
contact would have to improve their own food
habits. Also, nutrient-rich food stuff like fruits,
dry fruits, sprouts, vegetables, juices and milk
should be incorporated in their diet. Further, they
should be given freshly prepared food. Another
important parameter is the quantity. Some children
eat very little, while some have a heavy diet. Both
the habits are wrong and harmful. If this disparity
remains uncontrolled, consulting the experts could
prove beneficial. It is wrong to keep scolding the
child for food. This may push them into depression
or lead to other psychological complexities. The
correct way is to insist them lovingly. Sometimes
accepting what they say, while at other times
convincing them to follow what we advise.
The eating habits of neither the adults nor
the children can be improved forcefully. This
would instead worsen the situation, rather than
improving it. The stubborn insistence, initially
gives the impression of improvement but as soon
as the person gets freedom, he again becomes
willful. Thus, for changing our eating habits, we
do not have to compromise with taste, but have to
prudently inculcate the healthy food habits.
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