Who is the most important influence on your children? You are of course. You have the ability to help your children develop good healthy eating habits during their life. Offering your children a variety of different foods gives your children the nutrients that they need from many different types of foods. Family time can be great for cooking, eating and talking together.

Here are 10 tips for setting good examples of being a role model for your children:

1. Showing by examples: Plan to eat snacks that include raw vegetables, fresh fruits and
   100% whole grain foods. This will allow your children to see you eating healthy and follow your lead.
2. Bring your children grocery shopping: Grocery shopping with your children teaches then how to pick healthy and nutritious foods. Explain to them the growing process of vegetables fruits, grains, dairy and protein foods and their value. Allow your children to make their own healthy choices.
3. Being creative in the kitchen with your children: Use cookie cutters to cut your vegetables and fruits. Let your children tell the family what foods they helped prepare. Encourage and motivate your children to create new snacks. Create your own trail mixes with your children and name it after the family’s name or your children’s name.
4. Offering everyone the same foods: Don’t cook different dishes to please your children. Plan family meals that everyone eats.
5. Rewarding your children with attention, not food: Show your children affection with hugs and kisses not sweet snacks.
6. Focusing on family members at the table: Avoid looking at the television and talk about fun and happy exciting things at mealtime.
7. Listening to your children: If your children say that they are hungry, offer them a small healthy snack full of nutrients before dinner.
8. Limiting TV and computer time: Give your children allotted TV and computer time of no more than 2 hours.
9. Encouraging physical activity: Encourage walking, running and playing with your children on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This sets a good example for exercising.
10. Being a good food role model: Try new foods and acquire new taste. Tell your children what it tastes like and offer your children to taste from themselves. Offer the new food with your children’s favorite food. Do not force them to eat the food.