Encouraging the new generation to adopt healthy eating habits is no less than a test for mothers.
When we started going to school as children, we remember that during lunch breaks, our first question was always, “Why do we need this?” because we never ate at that time at home, so why at school? We don’t recall what answer we were given then, but eventually, eating something during lunch breaks became a habit, and we would feel hungry at that time.
At home, children are raised with care to ensure their nutritional needs are met, especially during their growth years. However, many children don’t pay attention to their eating habits at home. Therefore, finding something appealing for them to eat at school becomes a challenge. Often, kids take advantage of being away from their mothers and give away their lunch to friends because they don’t like to eat or don’t like the lunch provided.
Nowadays, children prefer market snacks, while mothers strive to provide nutritious and healthy homemade food. Thus, mothers should adopt some strategies to make healthy food appealing to children. For instance, instead of giving one fruit, try preparing a fruit salad or a fruit chaat, as children are often more willing to eat this. To create interest, you can also relate different foods to stories or cartoon characters, telling them that eating certain foods will make them strong like their favorite character. This encourages them to eat willingly.
If your children don’t like healthy sandwiches, try making them more appealing. Improve the taste and keep the size small—cut one sandwich into four pieces or shape it attractively. You can also use different shaped cutters. Preparing sandwiches, kebabs, or nuggets in designs that your children like can increase their interest in eating. When making burgers, buns, or sandwiches, use sauces like chutney, ketchup, or mayonnaise sparingly.
Influenced by today’s environment, many kids prefer eating French fries, samosas, and nuggets. You can also prepare these at home, ensuring that the ingredients are clean and fresh. If your children express the desire to bring biscuits or chips for lunch or evening snacks, you can make it conditional, for example, allowing one store-bought item along with a homemade sandwich or fruit, encouraging them to eat something nutritious.
Children love pocket money because it gives them a sense of independence, making them feel they can buy whatever they like. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, before giving them money, check the quality of the food items sold at the school canteen. If satisfied, there is no harm in giving them pocket money once or twice a week, along with guidance on what to buy. Ask them what they bought to instill a sense of accountability.
Encourage them to save their pocket money as well. For example, if you buy something for them, suggest they save and buy it themselves next time. If the item is expensive, offer to contribute some money, teaching them the value of saving.
To promote healthy eating, educate children about the benefits of the food you provide in their lunchbox. For instance, tell them that eating fruits, milk, or vegetables will help them grow taller or build muscles, or for girls, it will improve their skin and hair health. This will motivate them to eat happily.
Mothers also face the challenge of dirty school uniforms when children return home. During playtime, uniforms get dirty, and stains often appear, leading mothers to scold their children. Instead of scolding or restricting play, use a combination of washing powder and borax powder (in a 1:2 ratio) while washing uniforms to remove stains effectively and make them look as good as new, as if dry-cleaned.
Additionally, many schools inform parents about exams at the beginning of the academic year, causing anxiety about grades. Some mothers send their children to tuition centers or hire tutors, but continuous study sessions longer than 30 minutes can make kids bored. It’s essential to give them a short break with light conversations to prevent monotony.
A mother plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s personality. Behind every great individual is the nurturing and upbringing of their mother. No tutor can replace a mother, which is why children whose parents take a keen interest in their education often perform better. To support their learning, include foods that boost memory, like almonds, walnuts, potatoes, and dairy products. Additionally, a light oil massage on the child’s head at night using circular motions improves blood circulation and is very beneficial.