How Teaching Kids to Make Good Choices Can Improve Their Diet

This post was sponsored by the National 4-H Council as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. Learn how teaching kids make good choices can improve their diet this holiday season.

If you ask your family and friends to recall their favorite holiday memory, they will most likely tell you a story that revolves around their Grandma’s legendary crab dip. Or maybe they will tell you about their Uncle and his famous cookie pies that he bakes every Christmas. It could even be an amusing story about the time the family dog stole the holiday ham from the table.

Whatever the memory may be, I’ll guess they involve two very special things, family and food. After all, isn’t that what is at the core of every holiday? When you strip away the usual holiday stressors, you are left with the best part; family, food, and appreciation for all that you have.

The holidays are right around the corner and we are excited about all of the delicious treats that we will be enjoying. However, I find myself working harder than usual to make sure my kids are enjoying everything in moderation.

An easy way for me to do this is with my one to one rule. It’s a very simple and easy way to make sure my kids are balancing the good with the bad. If they are going to eat something unhealthy, like potato chips, they know they have to pair it with something healthy – like string cheese, apple slices or carrot sticks. This is an easy rule to apply to snack time because everyone gets what they want. They get a little treat and I get them eating more fruits and vegetables!

I apply a similar rule to our regular meal times. We always serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner with at least one fruit or vegetable. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to provide my children with healthy food options. Many families don’t share that same opportunity. Nearly 16 million children live in a home that is food insecure. But it’s true, there are millions of families that don’t have consistent access to food throughout the year.

And that is why the 4-H Food Smart Families program targets families that are eligible for or receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and/or WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). 4-H and United Healthcare work with families teaching them how to plan, shop and prepare healthy meals on a budget.

The Food Smart Families program is dedicated to empowering youth and their families by educating them to help them make healthy living a part of their everyday lives. They also work to connect families with nutrition assistance resources in their community.

The goal of the 4-H Food Smart Families program is to pilot and test their program in select states and eventually expand it across the entire 4-H Extension network which exists in every county across the country.

Learn more about 4-H Food Smart Families

When you sit with your family this holiday season, take time to appreciate all of that you have in life. Please take a moment to spread the word about the 4-H Food Smart Families program. Learn more about 4-H through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.