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Low-carbin' It With Tots?
Preparing Meals for Toddlers While You're Dieting
By Lisa A. Goldstein
The problem is that role modeling of unhealthy food choices is the No. 1 cause of poor eating habits among children, Julien says. As a result, a parent should be careful as to the choices they make around their children. Incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains will not completely derail weight loss efforts, as these are high in nutrients (including fiber), which should be part of a healthy, balanced meal plan. She suggests that parents make the effort to have at least one serving of any of these at meals/snacks to improve modeling behavior.
Burrell also recommends having healthy and nutrient-dense foods present for your child to snack on during the day and evenings. "Presenting foods in a kid-friendly form can also be effective to entice children to eat healthy foods," Burrell says. "[This can be] any fresh fruit cut into pieces that can be held by the toddler and dipped into yogurt or peanut butter, sandwiches made with whole wheat and cut into fun shapes using a cookie cutter, fruit blended with yogurt to make a healthy, fresh fruit smoothie."
Even if parents are doing low-carb, it shouldn't be no-carb, so they should be eating cereals and whole grains in the morning withtheir kids, Julien says. "At that age, there is only so much attention paid to what parents are really eating," she adds. But she says an explanation should be given to children of reasonable age. She suggests saying something along the lines of "Mom and Dad are trying to eat healthfully. However, you are still growing; therefore, you need to eat differently than we do."