Ensure Your Child’s Nutritious Choices Away From Home

Today’s children are becoming more accustomed to eating out. With the demand of sports teams, school programs, school meals, and parents running here and there to get their kids everywhere they need to be, it’s very difficult to cook (let alone eat) well balanced meals. So, in such a fast paced world what can you do to ensure your child chooses nutrition away from home?

America has been called a “fast food nation” and for good reason. One out of four American people eats fast food every day; and most of the time because it’s “convenient.” And as we all are aware, fast food restaurants to hold a very good track record for offering healthy nutritious foods. Although they are fast and cheap, they also are higher in calories and fat, and lack the important vitamins and minerals our bodies need. And it is also becoming that way with restaurant dining. Much of the food is high in sodium, fat, and sugar, and the portion sizes are way bigger than any of us should be eating. It is possible however, if you know what you are looking for, for your child to make good food choice when they’re away from home. You just have to teach them what to look for.

Since education is the key to helping your child make nutritional food choices, you must first start at home. Many fast food restaurants will give you information about their food on websites. Get online with your child and start looking at different choices and what kind of nutritional value they have. If you can’t find a website for the places your child would eat if they were not at home, then simply put in a search for the food item and its nutritional value. If you can show your child what they’re eating and what it does or doesn’t do for their body, they are more likely to us that education when they’re eating out with friends, or choosing what they want for school lunch.

Some healthy food choices

Whether you are the parent of a young child or a teenager, providing them with options is important. If you show them some of the better foods to eat when they’re eating out, they will be more comfortable choosing those. Here are some healthy fast food options:

•Grilled chicken or fish sandwich. Grilled chicken and fish can provide your body with the protein it needs, but not all the extra fat.
•Whole wheat rolls or bread is way better for your body. It contains less sugar than white bread does.
•Fruit and yogurt
•Drink milk or water. Soda has a ton of calories in it and has no nutritional value whatsoever, and most fruit juice drinks are high in sugar.
•Consider a different side, like apples. If you have children, you know McDonald’s is always going to be an option because it’s so cheap. So instead of ordering large french fries with the meal, get something different for your side. Even McDonald’s has a little nutrition. You can get apples instead of french fries and give your child a little bit of a healthier meal.

Teach proper portion sizes

Now that you have covered what is healthy and what is not so healthy with your child, it is important to teach them about portion sizes. Our portion sizes have become ridiculously big and as a result so have people. Teach your child to eat until they are comfortably full; not feeling sick to their stomach and ready to throw up. Teach them to eat smaller portions more often throughout the day so they’re not trying to digest a huge meal in one sitting. If you can teach them this at home by showing them what proper portion sizes are, they will know when to stop if they’re eating away from home.

So what can you do to ensure your child chooses nutrition away from home? You can education them about healthy eating and proper nutrition at home, so when they eat away form home they are better prepared to choose more nutritious foods and proper portion sizes.