Eating behaviours evolve during the first years of life; children learn what, when, and how much to eat through direct experiences with food and by observing the eating behaviours of others. In light of the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in North America among all age groups, including very young children, an understanding of the factors that influence eating behaviours during childhood is needed to improve the dietary patterns and health status of this age group.

Another tip for when taking your kids to the grocery store is trying to make them accountable for their choices of snacks, but also helping them and guiding them. This way, when they’re back at home and they’re hungry, you can direct them in saying “Well, these are some of the snacks that you’ve chosen, so let’s figure out what we can make here.”

So in the grocery store, looking at for example, labels and trying to help them identify healthy options, by for example looking at fibre. Looking that the ingredient list isn’t super long. Sticking to the perimeter of the grocery store. Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition. Smart Food Now and exercise is also optominal for overall health.    

Having them choose fresh options. Having them choose varieties of colours and shapes, and this is helpful too. So when they can see something that looks exciting, by purples and reds and oranges, this can make for fun, exciting snacks as well.

This tip makes them accountable for the snacks that they then have back at home.

Presenter: Ms. Sarah Blunden, Registered Dietitian, Ville Saint-Laurent, QC

Now Health Network Local Practitioners: Registered Dietitian

Mindful eating and mental health in teenagers while they’re snacking in front of devices – here’s some tips. So, actually the snack choices that are often made are high in salt or high in sugar.

This becomes addictive to the body, and it can actually alter some of the signals in the brain, and this can lead to obesity, mood swings and then the body craving these foods. When we crave foods and we don’t get what we want, it can alter our mood.

So, trying to make snack choices that are lower in salt, and lower in sugar, will have less of these spikes, which will hopefully in turn have less of an altering effect in the brain, and also help with regulating mood. Local Dietitian.

Presenter: Ms. Sarah Blunden, Registered Dietitian, Ville Saint-Laurent, QC

Local Practitioners: Registered Dietitian

Here’s a tip for mindful eating and children. When we eat in front of the TV, play video games, tablets, phones, we’re not paying attention to the food that’s going in. We’re not listening to the body’s signals.

We’re not tasting and chewing and appreciating the food. This will always lead to eating more and not feeling satisfied. And what happens is we actually lose our hunger and satiety cues.

Here’s a tip. Turn off the TV, turn off the video games, turn off the tablet. Eat in an environment with less distractions, in a family setting or in a nature setting. This will help kids develop their hunger cues and their satiety cues to help them for now but also later on in life.

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Presenter: Ms. Sarah Blunden, Registered Dietitian, Ville Saint-Laurent, QC

Local Practitioners: Registered Dietitian