A healthy diet does not mean eating very little or limiting one's choice of food to just lettuce and carrots. A healthy diet consists of a balance of fruits and vegetables, lean meat, and a good portion of dairy products. At the same time, it strictly limits the consumption of sweet snacks. Most importantly, it means never being hungry.

One of the worst things a child can do is to skip breakfast. Doing so sabotages any hopes of a healthy meal plan for the remainder of the day. Skipping breakfast invariably makes the child famished before lunch. This extreme hunger can cloud the judgment and prevent the child from making good decisions when it comes to snacking or picking out healthful food from the lunch menu.

The Fat Paranoia

Fat has been the scapegoat for the obesity epidemic for many decades. It has gotten a worse rap than it deserves. The truth is that fat is an essential part of a good diet. Without it, human beings cannot survive. The human brain is composed mostly of fat. During the stage of rapid brain development in childhood, fat is essential for the growth of a healthy mind.

The higher requirement for fat during the toddler years, when brain development is rapid, is the reason pediatricians and dieticians recommend providing whole milk to children until they are two years old. Low-fat and nonfat (or skim) milk may not supply an adequate amount of fat to a growing brain.

This is not to say that children should consume an unlimited amount of fat. The body derives more calories from fat than from an equal portion of other types of food. Make sure your child's diet is balanced, which means it should include vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy products, and grains.

The Cholesterol Controversy

Just like fat, cholesterol has gotten its share of unfair negative publicity. Its role in heart disease and stroke is undeniable, but it's not always true that a diet low in cholesterol will guarantee you a low cholesterol level in the blood.

Cholesterol is a type of fat found only in animal tissue. It is especially abundant in organ meat and certain types of seafood. A strict vegetarian who avoids all meat, dairy products, and eggs would not derive any cholesterol from the diet. However, these vegetarians could still have dangerously high cholesterol levels in the body. The reason for this is that the human body generates its own cholesterol.

Many people are unaware that cholesterol is also an essential component of the body. It is the material from which many human hormones are derived. In addition, its role inside the brain is indispensable. Without cholesterol, no human being could survive. That is the reason the body generates its own cholesterol, even if none is ingested from any food matter.

It is still a good idea to avoid taking in excessive cholesterol in the diet. The body generates the majority of its cholesterol, and a diet rich in cholesterol will elevate the blood level of cholesterol even more. However, cholesterol avoidance can be taken to the extreme. Some parents are so afraid of cholesterol that they eliminate all foods high in cholesterol from their children's diet. This is generally not a good thing for the following reasons.

Many nutritious foods that are high in cholesterol are also rich sources of vitamins and protein. Eggs and liver are great examples of these types of food. In the process of completely eliminating them from the diet, parents also effectively take away many food choices from their children's menu. This is unnecessary and sends the wrong message to children about eating a balanced diet.

Instead, it is recommended for children to eat a variety of foods, including some that may have cholesterol. As long as it is done in moderation, there is no reason to worry about raising cholesterol levels. For example, enjoying one egg a day does not pose any health risk as far as cholesterol is concerned. Occasional organ meat in the diet is also safe. Liver is an excellent source of vitamin B12, which is an essential vitamin for blood and brain development.

Moderation Is Healthy

Finally, listen to your child. When he says he's had enough, do not force him to finish the his food or clean his plate. If the leftover portion is excessive, save it for later or discard it. No one wants to advocate wasting food, so it's a better idea to serve less food next time if your child consistently cannot finish his meals. Forcing your child to eat everything on his plate when he is obviously full teaches him to ignore his internal satiety cues. This can easily lead to overeating in adulthood.