Establishing good eating habits in your kids may seem like a daunting task, but Dr. James Harris, director of the eating disorders program at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, says it all starts with a little togetherness.
“The No. 1 thing parents [can do] is to have regular family meals,” shares Harris, who emphasizes that table time should be top priority, despite chaotic schedules.
Additional tips to try? Harris says mixing up the menu with variety, moderation and healthy options is key, as is designating just two nights per week for dessert, keeping fresh foods available for snack time and modeling good choices.
To help children work through [picky phases] establish the one-bite rule—encourage them to take one bite of something before declaring they don’t like it.
