We teach our children to wash their hands to combat germs and bugs; and they learn that if they eat too much candy they might get a stomach ache—but many of us parents don’t even fully understand how our diet can affect the way we feel physically so we may not be passing that on to our children.
Did you know that a change in your diet could make you feel like you have a cold or the flu? Too much dairy, for example (cheese, milk, etc.) can make some people have a stuffed up nose and congestion. Too much caffeine can give a person a headache or even achy joints and other types of nutritional imbalance can make us feel sleepy, nauseous, achy, etc. Now, I am not a doctor and in no position to give medical advice, but I do think that as parents we can teach our children that what they eat—can have a direct bearing on how they feel.
Instead of immediately jumping to the bugs and germs conclusion when your child complains of feeling under the weather, try asking them how they have been eating? Have they had a lot of dairy? Too much protein? How long has it been since they ate a vegetable or crunched on an apple? How about water intake? Dehydration can be a fairly common cause of feeling poorly among many of us. Helping kids to understand that direct connection between intake and physical feeling doesn’t have to be a stressful, intense lesson—but it can be important to helping them learn how to make nutritious and healthy choices and manage their own health.
Talking about your own food, beverage and health awareness can be helpful too. Let your kids know what foods give you headaches or if you are unable to handle much caffeine. This can help them to learn awareness around their own personal health issues.
Also: Too Sick For School–How do You Know for Sure?
Lack of Sleep Affects Big Kids Too