Think Big! Habits for a Lifetime.

Most of the parents I talk to have given little thought to the lifelong habits they want their children to learn.  And that’s kind of like driving without knowing where you’re going.  Successful parents chart this out in the beginning.  Here are some habits you might want to teach your kids:

• How eat foods in proportion to their healthful benefits.
• How to try new foods.
• To eat only when hungry (not when they are bored, sad or lonely).
• To get through buffets and parties without overeating.
• How to eat the correct portion size, regardless of how much is offered.  In other words, how to stop eating before the whole bag of chips is gone.

I know it sounds far-fetched to focus on teaching young kids these habits, but guess what?  If you start really early (like when your kids start eating) then they’ll accept “No more,” when you say they have had too much candy and they won’t put up a fuss when you don’t serve their favorite pasta every single night.

Once you’ve identified the habits you want your children to have, make sure you are teaching them the right lessons.  A mother once asked me how she could get her toddler to eat at the table.  Great question; it’s one that I am asked quite often.  The problem is, the entire time the woman was talking to me she followed her child around the room scooping yogurt into her mouth.  What was this mother teaching her daughter?  That she can eat while she plays and there’s no need for a table!  

Are your messages in sync?  Check to see if you are really teaching your children the habits you want them to have.  If not, change what you are teaching.