Q: How do I get my 10 year old son to eat healthy?
A: Oh to be 10 and not have any cares in the world. Where all our needs are provided for and the fine art of negotiations is being learned.
By this stage in the game most 10 year olds have identified with peers and started to become more individualized. This may be when they branch out into “different” musical tastes and start to flee from anything that make them look “child like”. 10 year old boys do not want to be known as “boys”. They want to make a name for themselves and show the world they are growing up.
When I look at the eating habits of my 2 young daughters, I can see they eat what we tell them too (most of the time). This is the role of a child.
Queue the 10 challenging 10 year old. They are not kids and will start to “buck” the system. They will use the logic that their friends don’t have to eat healthy and so they won’t have to either. So what are we going to do about this…?
As with all children, they need stability and eating healthy is no exception to this. Let them know that there is a reason for eating healthy and try to identify with them. Most 10 year old boys have some type of athletic idol that they aspire to become. Explain to them the rigorous diet they need to follow in order to become who they are. If you have to opportunity to have them visit with an athlete, take that opportunity. Also make sure that you model good eating habits for yourself. Of all the idols that children have, their first one should be you (scary). If you don’t look after yourself, then they may not have the desire to follow suit. Another tip is to not have the option in the home. If I go to my pantry and see a large bag of BBQ chip, what do you think I may be inclined to do? If the temptation is not there, they may not choose this unhealthy option. And finally be proactive with your approach and not spring healthy eating on them at once. Healthy eating should be a lifestyle that started with the when they were young. That way they will not be in shock when you take away the potato chip and give them carrot sticks.
Questions, Comments, Outbursts…anyone?
Trevor works as a child protection worker and a licensed registered Social Worker in his home province. During his schooling and training he specialized in mental illness and addictions. He looks forward to answering your questions on mental illness, addictions, parenting or child behavior.
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Katie Hurley, LCSW
Saturday 5th of February 2011
Eating issues seem to come and go. One thing that does seem to help, regardless of age, is to involve them in the process. Let them pick out foods they might like, or something they ate at a friend's house and prepare it with you. Try to make it fun and not a chore. You're so right on about the chips and other bad stuff though...I don't buy them so I won't eat them!!!
Katie
Laura @SuperGlueMom
Friday 4th of February 2011
Oh, you are so right. the key is to limit the choices they have at home! and to stay firm as to 'who the parent is'. we live in a world of many many unhealthy food choices....
April Westerhold
Friday 4th of February 2011
I think getting kids to eat healthfully at any age is hard. I just always try to provide healthy choices and make them at least TRY everything. I also always make sure that I have at least one healthy item that I KNOW they like (i.e. yogurt, cheese stick, green beans, apple, etc)