Hey, Mom – trying to get your child to eat a healthier diet? We know children are impressionable and look up to their mothers, and a recent study out of Chicago confirms the idea that children do observe and behave like their mothers when it comes to food choices, physical activity level, and television watching.
Over 2,100 mothers were given questionnaires to analyze their own dietary habits, physical activity levels, and number of hours spent watching television. They then answered similar questions in regards to their children, aged 2 to 11 years. More specifically, the mothers were asked diet-related questions to determine how often they make unhealthy choices such as eating fast food. They also answered questions about their own physical fitness levels to find out how often they choose sedentary activities like watching television or playing video games. Subsequently, moms answered the same questions about their kids’ diet and activity levels. The researchers wanted to know, for example, how often their kids drink sugar-sweetened juice beverages and soda.
Researchers found that when mothers reported healthy habits for themselves, they were much more likely to report similarly healthy behaviors for their children. They concluded that mothers and their children often have similar dietary habits and lifestyle characteristics.
Need some tips on choosing healthier meal choices or family activities?