First, identify 3-4 health-related messages/behaviors that your family has focused on. How do these messages/behaviors shape the behavior of various family members?
1) Variety in our food. We post the USDA my plate image on the cupboard door in our kitchen. We hope that it will serve as a reminder of the various food groups that are needed with each meal. As older children assist in meal planning and sometimes make their own meals, this serves as a guide to help them remember to make more than just macaroni and cheese.
2) Eat your fruits and vegetables. We leave fresh fruits and veggies out for snacks. Sometimes whole, sometimes cut up, and sometimes even with dip. This is so that our children will see these when they are looking for a snack and eat them instead of a less healthy snack. It also helps them get plenty of fruits and vegetables to help make up for the times when someone forgets to follow the my plate diagram and serves just macaroni and cheese.
3) Water. Your body's many cries for water is a book that identifies that many ways your body uses the water that you provide to it. Some water comes from your foods, especially juicy fruits, but most of the water your body gets is what you drink. Juice and pop are saved for special treats, and milk is only served with breakfast and dinner. When you are thirsty throughout the day, drink water. We do this to help our children to develop a habit of providing their body with enough water to sustain itself and to maintain their health. Our children generally ask for water when offered something to drink outside of our home, so I believe it is a habit that they are picking up on.
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