Did you know that we’re more likely to have healthy habits as an adult if we established them as kids? It’s true! That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Sevierville wants to help you build healthy eating habits in your little ones—starting today! Rules for Raising Healthy Eaters Think your own eating habits aren’t good enough for you to be teaching your kids healthy habits? Think again! Let’s take a look at some ways you can help encourage your children to eat right. First, make it a rule to buy healthy delicious foods the majority (80 to 90 percent) of the time, while allowing a little room for some family favorites. (Did someone say Girl Scout cookies?) If you stock your home with healthy foods, you and your loved ones are more likely to grab a healthy snack or meal because the options only allow those types of foods to be chosen. Remember, you eat what is available. If junk food is available, it will be chosen. But eliminate the chips and sugary desserts and an apple and some peanut butter look a lot more tempting! Second, allow your children to become involved in the meal and snack planning. Carry this over to the grocery store, too. Research has shown that kids are more likely to eat items and meals that they’ve played a role in choosing or preparing. Play a game where each time you go grocery shopping you choose a different fruit or veggie you’ve never tried before. You can even search for recipes together that use that new ingredient. By allowing your children to have a say in what foods they are able to eat, they are more likely to eat the healthy snack or meal. Finally, start as young as possible when it comes to building healthy eating habits. If you begin when your children are small, they will have a higher chance of keeping these healthy habits, as they will be used to eating this way and won’t know anything different. In addition, we are more able to adapt to certain situations like healthy eating better when we are young, before the poor habits begin to arise. Therefore, set your children up for success in healthy eating before they know any other way to be. Take Your Healthy Habits With You! Of course, while healthy habits start at home, they are lived outside the home, too! And with the fun happening around Pigeon Forge this spring, you are going to want to get out of the house and participate at events like:

• Stronger Ladies Retreat, beginning April 9
• Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival, starting April 20

Just remember to pack those healthy habits with you! Is your child hitting all the necessary milestones? Visit AFC Urgent Care Sevierville today for a wellness exam to ensure your child is where he or she needs to be and to discuss a nutrition plan that best suits your family.