Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. When communities, health professionals and families work together, living heart healthy is possible.
One of the most important ways to have a healthy heart is to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
Some tips to help keep healthy meals on the family’s table –
- Serve one meal for everyone. Plan meals to include at least one thing that everyone likes. Then, serve one meal for everyone in the family; unless there are family members with food allergies.
- No clean-plate club. Help kids focus on eating until they’re full rather than finishing every bite on their plate.
- Kid-sized portions. A good rule to remember is one tablespoon of food per age of the child for each meal option (about two or three foods).
- Kid-friendly meals. Consider creative presentations for healthy foods. For example, use unsweetened raisins or small pieces of fruits and vegetables to make faces on healthy foods.
- Healthy celebrations. Pick truly rewarding rewards. Instead of rewarding children with food, give verbal praise and a hug for good behavior.
Sources:
- American Heart Association, “Behind National Wear Red Day,” (accessed November 2, 2018), available at goredforwomen.org/home/get-involved/national-wear-red-day/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Heart Disease Can Happen at Any Age,” (accessed November 2, 2018), available at cdc.gov/features/heartmonth.
- Heart.org; cdc.gov; healthfinder.org; uwhealth.org
