Time to plan your game strategy! As the family food coach, it's up to you to position your players — the members of your family — so they'll all be winners at healthy eating. It starts with setting up the right environment in your home, stocking up on nutritious foods, and putting together the best meals and snacks. So pull out your clipboard and start taking notes — we've got all the plays you'll need!
How do you make sure the MVPs in your life stay healthy and fit? A lot of strategies come into play, like taking them for regular checkups or helping them stay active. But there's one arena where you can make a difference three, four, or even five times a day, every day, and that's food — what they eat, when, and how much. What your children eat will affect their weight and health, not to mention their energy level and mood, both now and in the future. That's why it's key that you, as the family food coach, take your game plan seriously.
According to Joy Bauer, R.D., the nutrition expert on Shaq's Big Challenge, healthy eating is a partnership between parents and kids. It's the parents' job to provide wholesome foods and coach kids to make healthy food decisions, while it's up to the kids to play the game and use that knowledge and skills out on the court.
We know your role is a challenging one. Everyone has different foods they like — or don't like — and it would be easy to get conned into preparing multiple meals every day. (Just remember what Shaq's mom likes to say: "This ain't no restaurant!") With soccer practice, late-night homework sessions, and all the other commitments busy kids have these days, it's hard to get everyone around the table even once a day! That's why we've got Shaq's rules for helping you coach your kids to eat better — even when you're not around.
By following Shaq's food coaching rules, you'll help overweight children and teens stop gaining weight. As they grow taller, their weight will slip easily back to a healthy level. But even if your child is at a healthy weight, following Shaq's coaching rules can help him or her maintain that weight and make smarter food choices — which will impact long-term health. It's more important than ever to act now, during childhood, while your child is still developing food preferences and solidifying his or her relationship with food. While it's never too late to change poor eating habits, it's a lot harder when you've been practicing them for years or decades on end.
Next: Official Rules and Regulations for Food Coaches >
In this article:
Feeding a Family
Official Rules and Regulations for Food Coaches
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