Eating today: more than just food intake
The VFED (Association for Nutrition and Dietetics) is celebrating Healthy Eating Day for the 21st time under the motto "Enjoyable eating and drinking - Committed to people and nutrition". Mealtimes play an important role in our learning worldschildcare centers : they are social events where children experience the joy of eating and learn self-determined nutritional behavior. 5 tips that are easy to implement in everyday family life.
1. create a pleasant atmosphere
Mealtimes are important events that structure the day and give the child the opportunity to rest and reflect. It is worth emphasizing the importance of mealtimes, for example with a beautifully laid table and good, child-friendly tableware.
2. take your time
In our hectic lives, mealtimes are often the only times when everyone sits at the same table. Allow yourself and your children this break from everyday life and take time to enjoy the meal. Remember: you are also a role model for your child at mealtimes.
3. stimulate conversations
In all cultures, shared meals are a means of communication. And so a relaxed atmosphere at the table also encourages children to talk and creates an important opportunity for exchange both at childcare center and within the family.
4. promote self-determination and participation
Independent handling of food helps to prevent eating disorders in children. Children need to be able to sense for themselves when they are hungry, when they are full and what they like. You can encourage this by supporting children from an early age in taking their own food and offering them unfamiliar foods to try. However, do not force children to eat or to try food.
5 Be a role model and show appreciation
Be a role model yourself and convey a positive attitude towards food to your children. This includes an appreciation of food and an open-minded approach to unfamiliar dishes.
"A feel-good atmosphere is particularly important at the table! Stress has no place here, as it has a huge impact on children's eating behavior. In view of the prevalence of eating disorders, we also see our educational mission in the pme learning worlds as being to teach children how to handle food well and thus to give them a feeling for their own bodies."
Stephanie Niemierza, central childcare center coordination, pme Lernwelten
