It has often been said that a house is only as good as its foundation. The same principle holds true in various areas of life but is especially true of health. Good health in adulthood is established on the foundation of healthy eating habits in childhood. As childhood obesity metabolic syndrome diabetes and cardiovascular risk markers continue to soar to unprecedented levels it is time to start inspecting and rebuilding the foundation of America’s health. Instilling good eating habits in children is an essential part of building a strong foundation of for a healthy future.

Children’s eating behaviors and food preferences start to develop as soon as they begin transitioning from breast milk or formula to “real” foods highlighting the important role parents and caregivers play in building a strong foundation of health. Introducing a variety of flavors and textures in the context of low sugar high nutrient dense foods such as vegetables and fruits is important for building an acceptance of and preference for healthy foods that help prevent the development of chronic health conditions later in life. Too many foods marketed for infants and toddlers are flooded with added sugars refined grains unhealthy fats and artificial colorings flavorings and preservatives. This is evidenced by trends in NHANES data consistently showing that “children consume too many high-calorie foods and drinks such as whole milk fruit juice sugar-sweetened beverages dairy and grain desserts and pasta dishes which contribute ∼40% of total energy to their diets.” Sadly this pattern is not very different from the standard adult diet that has contributed heavily to the current obesity epidemic and related health disparities. Is it really such a surprise then that our children are experiencing the same results when their diets mirror that of the adults? 

Early introduction to high sugar foods is one of the biggest threats to establishing a strong foundation of health. As sugar consumption continues to increase among adults and subsequently their children researchers are scrambling to learn the effects of this trend. Children fed sugar-sweetened beverages such as fruit juices flavored milk and soda have higher risk markers for metabolic syndrome including waist circumference triglycerides high-density lipoprotein cholesterol glucose and mean arterial blood pressure. Research indicates that children develop eating behaviors through familiarization association and observation. In this context preference for sugary snacks and beverages is not only a result of early introduction (familiarization) but also can develop as a result of parents and caregivers role modeling consumption of sugary snacks and beverages (observation) and rewarding good behavior with sugary foods (association).

The impact of the home environment and parental role modeling in the development of children’s eating behaviors should not be underestimated. Children and early adolescents consume nearly 63 to 65 percent of their daily calories at home. The eating behaviors and food preferences learned in the home environment have been positively associated with overall diet quality and subsequent health. One of the primary sources of excess calories added sugars and unhealthy fats contributing to obesity in children is from food prepared outside the home. Home-prepared meals not only provide greater nutrition but also offer the opportunity for involving children in food preparation and teaching them how to prepare healthy meals. Children are more likely to consume foods they have been involved in preparing. Therefore meal preparation at home can provide an excellent context for introducing new foods to children.

The presence of a family unit during meal times provides an opportunity for role modeling good food choices and portion sizes while applying necessary guidance in these areas as well. Contrary to some beliefs authoritative parenting in food choice and eating behavior has actually been correlated with positive health outcomes in children. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition “children who described their parents as authoritative ate more fruit per day fewer unhealthy snacks per day and breakfast more days per week than did those who described their parents as neglectful.” Another study supported this conclusion by revealing that “a permissive feeding style which is highly responsive to a child's requests and sets few demands on him or her…was associated with child intake of LND [low-nutrient-dense] foods.” Finally a systematic review of the relationship between parenting practices and weight-related outcomes in children found that “children raised in authoritative homes ate more healthy were more physically active and had lower BMI levels compared to children who were raised with other styles (authoritarian permissive/indulgent uninvolved/neglectful).” Collectively these reports emphasize the importance of adult guidance and direction in building a strong foundation of healthy eating habits in children. 

As childhood nutrition and health continue to decline red flags are being waved and attention is being directed toward discovering factors that are contributing to this critical problem. Instilling good eating habits in our children could be a key to turning the tide of failing health in our nation.