Hey folks, Erin is back to answer more of your questions about feeding picky eaters, how to stay motivated when you're not seeing results, and the real reason meal plans don't work. Got more health and wellness questions for Erin? Drop them in the comments below or head over to the Mark's Daily Apple Facebook group. Lucas asked: "While I'm doing well with my primal lifestyle, I'd like some help getting my 3-year-old to eat better. Out of ease, my wife and I (wife isn't so primal) have been buying processed things for him and since I stay at home, I do have more control over his schedule and diet for most of the time. What are some strategies I can implement for getting him to eat healthier foods and what sort of foods should I feed him?" Trust me Lucas, you're not alone in this battle. Many of my clients are moms and dads in this same stuck-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place situation. As you mentioned, you're doing well on your primal journey, but it's not so easy for everyone. Especially kiddos. Think about what it took to get you where you are now. Maybe you were fed up with carrying extra weight. Or you were sick of battling cravings or fatigue. Or you didn't want to go down the traditional route of developing a chronic disease. Little kids don't have that. Your picky eater has zero motivation for wanting to change his food preferences. Couple that with the fact that he's probably bombarded with hyper-palatable foods that come out of brightly colored packages, and it's no wonder he's not super psyched about forgoing his mac 'n cheese and chicken nuggets for ribeye and sautéed greens. Overconsumption of processed food is proven to lead to all sorts of conditions, including type 2 diabetes in kids under 18. And if you start them out on these foods out of "ease" you're actually making things harder for them later in life. Remember, you and your wife are the ones buying the groceries. You have the opportunity to change your child's habits and patterns before he's out there making choices for himself. How to Change a Picky Eater's Preferences This study out of the University of Alberta showed that kids who were involved with food prep were more likely to make healthy choices at mealtimes. Researchers asked 3,398 fifth graders how often they helped prepare food at home and then rated their preference for things like fruits and vegetables. Not surprisingly, they found that up to 93% of the children reported helping their parents at mealtime at least once a month. And the more they helped, the more often they chose healthy foods. Instead of forcing the issue, which typically leads to a power struggle, and possibly a dysfunctional relationship with food, follow the research and learn how to help him overcome picky eating and make eating healthy fun for everyone. Get him involved. Look through recipes together, go grocery shopping together, and then eat … Continue reading "Ask a Health Coach: Motivation, Meal Plans, and Managing Picky Eaters"
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Contributed by: Rachana Arya Introduction Winter is difficult for everyone, but if you have asthma, it might be the most challenging time of the year for you. With the temperatures, dipping below normal, cold-induced asthma can make symptoms worse for a variety of reasons. Asthma is more difficult to manage during the winter months […]
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