Rearing Healthy Children
Ever since my children were old enough to talk I’ve tried to instill in them the desire to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Many of their friends live on fast food and spend hours on end playing video games and watching TV, rarely venturing outside to see the light of day. I’ve learned that it’s crucial to encourage healthy habits without being overbearing; otherwise, you run the risk of promoting rebellion.
When my children were little, I encouraged them to assist me in the kitchen—whether they were helping me measure out ingredients for recipes or using the pepper mill to season a dish. I also made sure to make time for some hands-on activity during the day, no matter how busy our schedules were. Making a concerted effort to educate your children on a healthy lifestyle and incorporate the habits into their daily lives will pay huge dividends in the end. Now that my kids have reached adolescence, I’ve noticed that they live healthier than most of their friends—but I do see them splurging now and again, of course.