One of the hardest things a parent can do is let their child make their own decisions. The best we can do as parents is lay a foundation so that when the time comes our kids make the right choice. Of course, we know that won’t always happen. That goes for simple choices like what to eat, to much more complicated ones like choosing the right person to date and even how they are going to handle peer pressure on other topics. Because my girls are still 10 and under, I can’t even think of that one yet!

So let’s stick to the eating healthy one. Laying the foundation for a healthy lifestyle for your kids isn’t always easy. There are temptations everywhere like at sporting events and school birthday parties. Even my kids, who should know better, have to learn to navigate the choppy waters of sugar filled treats and tempting fake foods. 

I do what I can to help guide them. We don’t keep anything in the house they shouldn’t eat. Don’t get me wrong. I keep healthier treats in our pantry but nothing with artificial colors and dangerous dyes. I try to explain to my two girls that we only get one body. It’s not about being skinny or fat (don’t ever use those words!) It’s about being healthy and strong. It’s about how we feel.

There are several ways you can teach your children how to live a healthy lifestyle and help them develop habits that will last a lifetime.  [Read more…]