Build A
Better Body
Importance of Role Modeling
Volume III - 2008 - Families
Have You Thought About …………
Have You Thought About …………
As parents, we want our kids to learn healthy eating
habits. Here are some tools- information, tips and a
recipe to help ‘build’ healthier kids. In this volume, read
about the importance of serving as a good role model,
how to get kids to practice what we preach and ideas for
accomplishing this.
Pleasant and interesting conversation at the table may
help set the mood for enjoyable eating. Here are some
conversation starters:
 What food you would never give up eating?
 What is your favorite winter (or other seasons)
memory?
 If you owned a store, what would you sell?
 What would you like to be famous for someday?
 What would you do if you got lost in a big city?
 What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
 What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
 Which would you choose being able to do: fly or
become invisible?
 How long could you go without watching TV?
 What is the best way to say you are sorry to
someone?
 What makes a good loser? And are you one?
How many times have you heard the expression ‘actions
speak louder than words’? Well, it is true! As parents, you
have considerable influence over what your children are
willing to sample or eat. Children are more likely to try
foods if they see adults eat them. They watch, imitate
and look to you to learn proper behavior, including eating.
Children learn by example.
Establishing healthy habits can be very difficult if a child
receives mixed messages. So ask yourself:
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Do you snack all day rather than have routine
meal times?
Do you skip breakfast?
Do you drink soda rather than milk or water?
Do you diet all the time or have a fear of food?
Do you talk about your food dislikes?
Do you use food as a reward?
Do you have empty calorie foods available rather
than healthy choices?
If you answered yes to two or more questions, you may
be sending unhealthy messages to children about food.
A child should know that when hungry, healthy food will
be available, likes and preferences will be considered,
that food choices can affect how we feel and act and that
there are ways to make unhappy feelings go away
without using food for comfort.
Since these are so important, parents can set regular
meal and snack times, serve choices of colorful foods,
and allow children to choose what and how much of what
is offered. Include children in the menu planning. Offer
comfort without using food and encourage kids to talk
about their feelings.
The message is actions speak louder than words, so we
must practice what we preach!
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
and U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005
6th Edition
Washington, D.C.
U.S. Government Printing Office
January 2005.
National Pork Board
Dairy Council of California, Meals Matter
Team Nutrition, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dr. Steven L. Paine
State Superintendent of Schools
TIPS
Build A
Answer the questions to judge your role
modeling behaviors.
 Do your children see you eat nutritious
foods and drink milk instead of soda?
 Do you limit non nutritious foods in your
home?
 Do you keep your food likes and dislikes
to yourself?
 Do you encourage your kids to try new
foods?
 Do you encourage 5 fruits and\or
vegetable in your family’s diet?
 Have you begun to incorporate whole
grains in your children’s diet at an early
age?
 Do you use non food items as rewards?
 Do you eat breakfast?
 Do you serve a new food regularly and
are you willing to try it?
 Do you avoid discussing diets or limiting
calories to lose weight in front of your
children?
Children need to learn to eat a variety of foods
to grow and stay healthy. Since they form their
eating habits early in life, we hope this
information will help you to ‘build a healthy
future’.
NUTRITION TOOL!
Tutti Fruitti Cones (six servings)
Actions
Better Body
Like reading, writing, hand washing and good personal
hygiene, learning good food habits is a life skill that can
help children live a healthy, satisfying life. Some tips:
 Establish a meal time routine that children can
count on to avoid the ‘grumpy hungrys’. Kids need
to eat every three to four hours.
 Never skip meals, especially breakfast.
 Take moderate portions.
 Turn off the TV or other distractions during meal
time.
 Make conversation in positive tones and about
pleasant topics.(See Conversation Starters)
 Encourage children to try new foods with a ‘nothank you bite’, however avoid using food as a
reward.
 Serve a variety of foods and make interesting
connections to new foods.
 If possible, let children help you prepare foods,
set the table, put out the napkins or toss a
salad.
 Incorporate physical activity in the day to build a
healthy appetite. This helps you take care of
yourself, too.
 Stay informed of proper nutrition needs through
reliable resources, workshops, or training
opportunities.
A nurturing place to eat is caring, calm and respectful
and safe from injury like choking.
Ingredients:
1 banana, sliced
1 cup mandarin orange
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, drained
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup blueberries
3/4 cup lowfat lemon yogurt
6 ice cream cones
Method:
Combine fruit and yogurt. Spoon 3/4 cup fruit in cone and
serve immediately.
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
age, disability or retaliation. If you require information about this program, activity or facility in a language other than English, contact the USDA agency responsible for the program
or activity, or any USDA office. If you require this information in alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) contact the USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice
or TDD).
To file a complaint of alleging discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free (866)
632-9992 (Voice). TDD users can contact the USDA through local relay or the Federal Relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
2008-2009
Delores W. Cook, President; Priscilla M. Haden, Vice President; Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary
Robert W. Dunlevy, Member; Barbara N. Fish, Member; Burma Hatfield, Member; Lowell E. Johnson, Member; L. Wade Linger Jr., Member; Gayle C. Manchin, Member
Brian E. Noland, Ex Officio; James L. Skidmore, Ex Officio; Steven L. Paine, Ex Officio