Should parent teach young children [5-10] good eating habits by word or be led by example?

Question

I’ve noticed that many parents teach their kids about getting ‘fat’ from very early on. Ingraining in their minds healthy eating habits, the importance of exercise, and fear of being overweight.

While I believe that it’s important for all parents to actively watch their children’s weight I don’t know why parent put such an emphasis on it and teach it to the extreme. I understand that childhood obesity is a major problem in our country it seems like many children are also taking the opposite extreme--becoming bulimic or anorexic.

Growing up; I was never taught out of school healthy eating habits. My sister and I were very active in sports due to our parents interest in us and we were given healthy meals at home. We both have no weight issues today.

So, should parents be putting such an emphasis on weight or should it be just something that they provide--by giving kids good meals and keeping them active? Why do you feel that way?

I goofed up. The question should be "Should parent teach young children [5-10] good eating habits by word or lead by example?" Oh well!

If you can make the answer as personal to your own family as possible. I would love to hear what you think as well as what you do.

Answer 1

I believe that parents should feed their kids healthy, and be an example of eating healthy. You don't have to put the fear in them of being fat, or putting a lot of attention on your looks. Just BE healthy and the children will follow your example. Our society puts WAY to much emphasis on looks and body image! Its quite disgusting that you have 11 year old anorexics because of the media!!
My grown sons are both at healthy weights, and don't have any food dis-orders.

Answer 2

The stress to be skinny is insane now..I think it's more a social problem than anything else. Both parents working and eating on the go, TV being a babysitter and video games non-stop. I have a rule in my house that if the sun is out and the weather is nice there is NO video games or TV until 7:30pm and they are done by 9pm. I also do not purchase any new video games between May 1st and Nov. 1. At first it was an issue, but now my kids love it. We go to the park, play basketball or kickball all the time. I have done away with all fast foods, except for Friday night (Pizza night)..They are not deprived of fast food, it is just something that is a special treat. It should in my opinion be something that is just done... Take a walk with your kids, cook them healthy meals, and get them involved in social activities. I do a lot of healthy choices without my kids even realizing it, for example pizza made out of wheat dough, fat free cheese and sauce that has mixed veggies mixed in and toppings such as peppers, onions, or mushrooms.. Although some of my "rules" may sound harsh, I found that I know my kids inside and out. It has brought my family closer and I know my kids are learning the tools for a healthy lifestyle without it being an issue of discussion. As for the schools teaching it, again they should not over emphasize on the subject and worry more about the amount of active time they can provide.

Answer 3

You have to lead by example. My Wife and I struggled with this. My wife is an extremely healthy eater and I was not. It was hard for me, but I changed my eating habits completely. I gave up regular soda, candy, fast food, and snacking whenever I wanted just to start. My kids (ages 2, 6 & 8) saw what I was doing, saw haow hard it was for me, and new the reasons why I was doing it (they were the reason I was doingit). As they saw me put forth the effort, they were easily persuaded to do the same. Now all of us are very healthy eaters and we get comments all the time about how well our kids eat, and we are always told that they turn down the candy & sweets when offered. Schools need to stop giving candy rewards to kids. That would help parents out as well. There is no reason why kids need to receive a food reward for anything. They are so many things showing and offering up bad food to our kids already. They can't see their parents come at them with a "do as I say, not as I do" approach to healthy living. Besides it's better for you to eat healthier anyway, and that should be motivation enough...especially if you have kids. You don't have to go to extremes. We occasionally enjoy our deserts, just not every day. We put more emphasis on getting nutritional value out of our meals. If you afraid of bulimia and anorexia, then you are not eating healthy. Eating healthy does not mean eating less. It means eating better nutritional food. There is a wealth of information out on the interent. Use it. Nobody has an excuse for eating bad anymore. You know it's bad...do somthing about it before it gets worse. My Mother passed away at too early of an age partly because of her eating habits. Don't let that be your mistake. The eating habits you teach your kids now, are the eating habits they will grow with. A well balanced diet is the most important thing you can do for your kids. Talk to them and get them involved in finding new healthy recipes with you. They will have a blast trying to help you out, plus they get to spend time with you. I could go on forever. Hope this helps you.

Answer 4

Well I think one mistake that is often made is the mindset of "eating everything on your plate." You have to keep in mind, the typical serving at a restuarant is literally THREE times more than a healthy serving should be, not even talking about what the food is, but just the quantity. People do the same thing at home. We simply eat too much. It's also not necessary to force kids to eat vegetables and so forth and if they tell you they don't like something, they really do MEAN IT. Certain foods, especially vegetables have an almost toxic taste to a child with less developed taste buds. Their bodies will tell them when they need to eat green stuff and they will, but to force it is absolutely unnecessary. Of course that doesn't mean they just get to sit around and eat ice cream.

Answer 5

I think parents need to quit feeding their kids junk food and happy meals from McDonald's and other fast food restaurants because that is teaching them bad eating habits. I also think that children need to be forced to play sports so they don't get fat by sitting in front of the computer or TV when they come home from school. It's not healthy for kids to just lay around the house all day and eat nothing but sweets and other bad food. Parents need to take the time out of their live to teach their children to live healthy and play outdoors more often so children don't become overweight and develop diabetes or other health related issues when they become adults.

Answer 6

Leading by example is the best way to teach kids, actions speak louder than words. Why should they listen to you saying "eat your vegetables, they're good for you" when you don't eat them yourself? Much better to have them see you eating healthy foods because you enjoy them. My partner and I don't really eat junk food or processed snacks. On friday after school they both get a little treat (small packet of sweets) and now and again we'll go for pizza or something, but generally we have a very healthy diet.
I've always loved food of all varieties! Before I had my older daughter I went through a phase of eating junk all the time because it was easier than thinking about cooking when working long hours and so on. My health got worse and I always felt tired and sluggish. When I found out I was pregnant I started to make an effort with what I ate again and started to feel loads better. That made me realise just what an impact your diet can have on you.

Since my kids watch me + my partner eating fresh food, freshly cooked, they see that as normal and sweets and fast food as an occasional treat. We have no problems with fussy eating, hyperactivity, or anything like that. Their weight is fine and they're both active, healthy kids with a good attitude to food and diet.

Answer 7

Eating habits are conditioned responses to stimuli received throughout the formative years of a child's life. One forms strong values about nutrition through the constant practice of healthy eating, therefor, the constant verbal barrage of the perils of not following the obtained knowledge does little to reinforce good and healthy eating habits. I agree with you that exaggerated verbal reinforcement can lead to the opposite result, a possible eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia.

Answer 8

Top 15 healthy eating habits

We have been talking these days too much about healthy eating habits for getting the fat off. But what are these healthy eating habits. I try to find the answer of this question in my today’s post.

We need to keep discipline with our eating habits if we really want to get long-term weight loss benefits. By adopting good eating habits we are not only going to get rid of weight, but also going to be free from many other diseases like Hypertension and Diabetes.


1. Eat healthy food which include sufficient amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.

2. Do not eat too much and any time. Eat only on scheduled time and when you are hungry.

3. Include fruits and vegetables in your breakfast.

4. Include cereals, pulses and milk products like curd etc in your lunch and dinner.

5. Do not take snacks between lunch and dinner. If you are feeling hungry, take fruits and vegetables.

6. If you are fond of fruit juice, take it 20 to 30 minutes before your meals

7. Do not forget to chew your meals properly.

8. Drink plenty of water during the whole day whenever you feel thirsty.

9. Do not keep any unhealthy food near your eating-place or in your house

10. Take your meals with peace, happiness and calmness.

11. Do not watch TV while taking your meals

12. Try to skip Tea, coffee, wine, beer, drugs and smoking as much you can.

13. Take small portions of meals and if you like can take your meals five to six time with small portions.

14. Try to be sugar free as much you can

15. Do not make sudden changes in your eating habits. Make them slowly

Answer 9

Parents should emphasize good eating habits and exercise. Weight should not be a topic, but a goal. Emphasizing weight can lead to psycological problems and eating disorders. Children get the idea that if they are fat they will not be loved.

Answer 10

growing up i was an active child, however sweets were readily available. MY family cooks with lots of fats, oils, you name it. Veggies were once in awhile. Today as an adult who has suffered most of my life with weight problems, and now i have 5 children of my own, i am learning a healthier lifestyle. I teach my kids about eating right, they teach me. My kids are involved in karate, soccer, gymnastics, wrestling, basketball, cheerleading. They have the occasionally sweet, but it makes me proud when we eat out and they make healthy choices, that as a kid i would never of done. They dislike the taste of soda, love milk, and when i say i want to try a new reciepe that has veggies we dont like, or havnt tried, they help me make it. My daughter is 10 yrs old and is a healthy weight, and one day we were watching t.v. and a informicial for a new excerice video came out and i said i wanted to get that, she told me ok mom but if you cant look like those woman they are too skinny and thats gross. I was afraid my always trying to lose weight would have some type of inpact on her self esteem, but because we discuss things so openly, she understands skinny doesnt equal healthy. Healthy is choosing food that are good for you body, excerise your body, brain, and spirit. Doing these things make you happy, healthy, and enjoy life. I dont feel we need to go to extremes to keep our kids healthy, we just need to educate ourselves as well as our children. With young children we do need to air on the side of caution so they dont suffer eating disorders wether its anorexia, bulimia, or over eating.