Families bond during Kids Eat Right Month

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kathleen D. Bryant
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
With all the convenience today in the form of processed foods, eating healthy can be a burden for people with little time on their hands.

To promote the importance of healthful eating, Moody's Youth Programs observed Kids Eat Right Month through a healthy family meal which children prepared for their parents after a nutrition class Aug. 13 here.

"I think the more often I get to come here and teach these basic nutrition habits, the better the chance they can find foods that taste good but are also good for them," said Erin Locke, 23d Medical Group health promotion dietitian. "A lot of times if you allow your child to be a part of the planning, they're more likely to eat it. The goal is to teach kids to eat healthy and hopefully instill in them the connection between food and fuel for their body.

During the class Locke provided recipes to the children that were quick to make and healthy to eat.

"I want it to be practical for the families," said Locke. "[Kids Eat Right Month] stresses the importance of families eating together, but it also makes sure you are choosing healthy foods while you're at it."

Staff Sgt. Sabrina Spaulding, 23d Wing military justice paralegal, attended the event with her daughter Lilliana. According to Spaulding, they eat dinner together often.

"During dinner time, we talk about [my daughter's] school, our day and what we're eating at the time," said Spaulding. "It brings the family together for good bonding and quality time."

Parents who encourage healthy choices during dinner time can prevent picking up bad habits, stressed Locke during the class.

"In this class [my daughter] learned about how much food she should be putting on her plate," said Spaulding. "She learned about how vegetables and fruit need to be a bigger portion size, not necessarily the protein and the starch. [All she talked about] was the dinner that she prepped for us. It was awesome!"

Introducing healthy habits early can teach children the importance of what and how much they eat.

"One bad habit I see is drinking sweetened beverages, like soda or sweet tea," said Locke. "Especially in the South, people underestimate the amount of calories and sugar they're getting from [drinks].

"Another bad habit is eating high-sodium or high-sugar snacks that will give you quick energy, but won't fuel you long-term," she added. "Instead of choosing a fruit or vegetable, people may grab something quick like [toaster pastries and potato chips]."

Even though these food choices taste good to kids, educating them on healthier options and taking the time to eat with them can improve their decisions on what to put in their bodies.

"The whole idea [of Kids Eat Right Month] is to get families to eat together," said Erin Locke, 23d Medical Group health promotion dietitian. "Research shows that children are actually more successful in life and at school when they spend time with their families at meal time without distractions of [electronics]."

For more information on nutrition, contact the base dietitian at 229-257-1470.