Healthy food is great, builds up and strengthens your families' immune system, but feeding a family a healthy diet isn't always so easy. Here's some tips from a reader.
As a parent, one of your biggest responsibilities lies in taking care of your family’s health. You always make sure that the house is properly cleaned. If they fall ill, you rush to see a doctor. You’re sometimes overprotective of them; placing strict regulations on the way they play and perform their activities. With all of your efforts towards developing them into the healthiest versions of themselves, you place a great deal of focus on their nutrition as well. However, healthy nutrition can be really tricky and difficult to maintain. With all the unhealthy food choices tempting every member of your family, it can become an almost impossible feat to achieve.
But you don’t have to despair yet! We have some helpful tips to make your job much easier. Here’s what you can do to help your family eat better:
Find Practical Meal-Prep Plans
If you’re like most of us, then you’ve already got your plates full to the brim. This is likely the biggest obstacle you’ll face whenever you want to make a positive change in your eating habits; you just don’t have enough time. Instead of trying time-consuming meals, go for practical meal prep plans that could cut down on time and costs. That way, you’ll ensure the longevity of your adopted routine.
Choose Your Protein Sources
Protein is one of the essential macronutrients to include in all of your meals, but not all protein sources are the same. Most plant-based proteins will be lacking in essential amino acids, so you’ll need to pay closer attention to the nutrients in each meal you prepare. Generally speaking, the best sources of protein are those coming from meats, chicken, and fish. You’ll still need to inspect your sources of meat; for instance, meat produced by Cleavers Organic has the advantage of being healthy and ethically organic. By inspecting the source of your meat, you’ll make sure that the quality of the protein you’re providing your family with is supreme, all while supporting animal welfare and ecological sustainability.
Go For Whole Grains
Carbs also provide essential macronutrients needed by the body for optimum function. But, like it is with protein, not all sources of carbs are the same. The most benefit can be acquired from consuming carbs from whole grain sources. Not only do they help in combating obesity and feeling fuller after each meal, but they’re packed with dense nutrients that benefit your health and the health of your family.
Stay Away From Junk Food
No matter how busy you are, you need to stay away from junk food. If you have to order a takeaway, go for healthier alternatives than cheeseburgers, fries, and other junk foods. These foods cause a lot of detrimental health effects in the long run, not to mention that they’re barely filled with any nutritional value.
Increase The Greens
Vegetables are also packed with an unbelievable amount of beneficial nutrients, such as fibers, minerals, and vitamins. Try to make it a habit to add vegetables, especially green veggies, with every meal. They also help in keeping the digestive tract properly functioning!
Have Fruits For Deserts
Now, this can be a tricky feat, but substituting sweets for fruits can do a wonderful job of maintaining your health. It can be difficult, we know, but maybe you can tempt them by buying their favorite fruits and stocking your fridge with these delicious goodies. If they find no other option available, they’ll grow to like fruits for sure.
Moderate Salt And Sugar Intake
There are some things we can include in our diet without realizing how harmful they really are; salt and sugar come on top of this list. Try to build a healthy habit of consuming them in moderation, or find healthier alternatives if possible.
Get A Treat Every Once In A While
Feeling deprived of delicious food, no matter how unhealthy it can be, can feel terrible. It can even build a stronger resistance to all of your efforts of maintaining a healthy diet for your family members. To ease this feeling of deprivation, it’s okay to indulge in a treat every once in a while. Eating a cheeseburger or having an ice cream every couple of months won’t be harmful. On the other hand, if you’re able to find healthy recipes to make the same treats, then even better!
The health of your family is your responsibility, and that’s a big burden to carry. However, developing healthy eating habits can come with practice. Start with finding practical meal prep routines, so that you’ll be able to keep up with the new changes. Always remember that the quality of the protein and carbs matter, stay away from junk food, make a habit of eating greens and fruits, and moderate salt and sugar consumption. At the end of the day, it’s good to have a treat every once in a while.
But you don’t have to despair yet! We have some helpful tips to make your job much easier. Here’s what you can do to help your family eat better:
Find Practical Meal-Prep Plans
If you’re like most of us, then you’ve already got your plates full to the brim. This is likely the biggest obstacle you’ll face whenever you want to make a positive change in your eating habits; you just don’t have enough time. Instead of trying time-consuming meals, go for practical meal prep plans that could cut down on time and costs. That way, you’ll ensure the longevity of your adopted routine.
Choose Your Protein Sources
Protein is one of the essential macronutrients to include in all of your meals, but not all protein sources are the same. Most plant-based proteins will be lacking in essential amino acids, so you’ll need to pay closer attention to the nutrients in each meal you prepare. Generally speaking, the best sources of protein are those coming from meats, chicken, and fish. You’ll still need to inspect your sources of meat; for instance, meat produced by Cleavers Organic has the advantage of being healthy and ethically organic. By inspecting the source of your meat, you’ll make sure that the quality of the protein you’re providing your family with is supreme, all while supporting animal welfare and ecological sustainability.
Carbs also provide essential macronutrients needed by the body for optimum function. But, like it is with protein, not all sources of carbs are the same. The most benefit can be acquired from consuming carbs from whole grain sources. Not only do they help in combating obesity and feeling fuller after each meal, but they’re packed with dense nutrients that benefit your health and the health of your family.
Stay Away From Junk Food
No matter how busy you are, you need to stay away from junk food. If you have to order a takeaway, go for healthier alternatives than cheeseburgers, fries, and other junk foods. These foods cause a lot of detrimental health effects in the long run, not to mention that they’re barely filled with any nutritional value.
Increase The Greens
Vegetables are also packed with an unbelievable amount of beneficial nutrients, such as fibers, minerals, and vitamins. Try to make it a habit to add vegetables, especially green veggies, with every meal. They also help in keeping the digestive tract properly functioning!
Have Fruits For Deserts
Now, this can be a tricky feat, but substituting sweets for fruits can do a wonderful job of maintaining your health. It can be difficult, we know, but maybe you can tempt them by buying their favorite fruits and stocking your fridge with these delicious goodies. If they find no other option available, they’ll grow to like fruits for sure.
Moderate Salt And Sugar Intake
There are some things we can include in our diet without realizing how harmful they really are; salt and sugar come on top of this list. Try to build a healthy habit of consuming them in moderation, or find healthier alternatives if possible.
Get A Treat Every Once In A While
Feeling deprived of delicious food, no matter how unhealthy it can be, can feel terrible. It can even build a stronger resistance to all of your efforts of maintaining a healthy diet for your family members. To ease this feeling of deprivation, it’s okay to indulge in a treat every once in a while. Eating a cheeseburger or having an ice cream every couple of months won’t be harmful. On the other hand, if you’re able to find healthy recipes to make the same treats, then even better!
The health of your family is your responsibility, and that’s a big burden to carry. However, developing healthy eating habits can come with practice. Start with finding practical meal prep routines, so that you’ll be able to keep up with the new changes. Always remember that the quality of the protein and carbs matter, stay away from junk food, make a habit of eating greens and fruits, and moderate salt and sugar consumption. At the end of the day, it’s good to have a treat every once in a while.