Children's Healthy Eating Patterns Can Fail If Parents Give The Wrong Example

Illustration of a child's healthy diet. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Children's eating behavior is greatly influenced by the example given by their parents on a daily basis. Children tend to imitate what they see at home, be it the habit of choosing healthy foods, drinking water, or avoiding unhealthy snacks.

Therefore, family eating habits become an important foundation for a child's healthy diet.

Pediatrician Ria Yoanita said that parental eating behavior greatly affects children's habits and preferences.

"Children learn the most effectively through modeling or imitating their parents' behavior. Studies show that parental healthy eating behavior greatly affects children's preferences and eating habits," said a member of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) as quoted by ANTARA.

He emphasized that regular eating with family is an important means to build healthy eating habits while strengthening family ties.

According to him, parents should be happy to show their children the choice of healthy food, for example choosing to drink water compared to sweet drinks, as well as fruit from packaged snacks.

"Avoid complaining or giving negative comments when eating vegetables or healthy food," said the graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia.

Previously, the Ministry of Population and Family Development emphasized the importance of educating the implementation of a healthy diet in the family as part of efforts to fulfill nutrition and prevent nutrition problems in children.

"Speaking of nutrition cannot be separated from family behavior," said Deputy for Movement and Community Participation of the Ministry of Population and Family Development Sukaryo Teguh Santoso.