Children often enjoy colorful food and drinks

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Children often enjoy colorful food and drinks. But Mama and Papa don’t know the reason? Check out the following article for a complete explanation!

Children are often tempted by the alluring charm of brightly colored foods and drinks. Mama and Papa may have noticed this when looking at choosing food in a restaurant or grocery store. However, not only there, the diversity of colors in food and drinks also becomes the center of attention at various lively children’s parties. In this article, Dr. Gia Prama and the content team from KlikDokter will discuss why children prefer brightly colored food and drinks and how parents explain that excessive consumption of these foods and drinks tends to be unhealthy for their beloved children.

1. Visual Stimulation

Children are naturally always encouraged to explore visually appealing things. The variety of bright colors in food and drinks is a magic spell that enchants them. These colors create a strong visual stimulus for children, making food more attractive and tasty.

2. Association with Fun

Colorful food is often associated with fun and happiness. For example, colorful candy, ice cream, or birthday cakes with bright decorations are often part of celebrations and memorable moments in children’s lives. So, it is not surprising that children feel full of joy and enthusiasm every time they are rewarded with colorful food or drinks because it makes them feel like they are celebrating something.

3. Curiosity

Children’s curious spirits are limitless, and colorful foods are like the key to opening the door to taste adventures for them. When they see colorful food or drinks, they may feel curious about the taste. It’s a natural way for children to explore the world of food and develop their taste preferences.

4. Advertising and Media

The food and beverage industry cleverly exploits the magic of colors to create an irresistible appeal to children’s eyes. Television advertisements, product packaging, and promotions on social media often show colorful food and drinks with characters that are attractive to children. Exposure of children to this visual beauty not only fills them with fascination but also fosters a deep interest in the colorful world of food and drink.

Parents’ way of explaining is unhealthy.

Although children are so captivated by the wonders of colorful food and drinks, it is the parents’ job not only to please their eyes but also to provide an essential understanding that excessive consumption of these colorful beauties can have unhealthy consequences. Here are some ways to explain this to children:

1. Nutrition Education

Parents can take advantage of this opportunity to provide nutritional education to their children. They can explain that colorful foods and drinks often contain lots of artificial sweeteners and food colorings, which may not be suitable for your health if consumed in large quantities. Parents can also teach children to recognize healthier foods and drinks by providing examples of better alternatives.

2. Consumption Limits

Let’s start the adventure of guiding children about the importance of setting boundaries when enjoying colorful foods and drinks. Parents can give them insight into the fact that these brightly colored foods should be enjoyed as special snacks or in balanced doses, not as the leading choice every day.

3. Discussion about nutrition

Discuss nutrition with children and how colorful foods may provide less nutrition than more natural and healthy foods. Teach them about the importance of choosing foods that provide health benefits, such as vegetables, fruit, and good sources of protein.

4. Good Example

Parents must set a good example by following a healthy diet themselves. Children tend to imitate the behavior of adults around them. Therefore, if parents choose healthy and varied foods, children will be more likely to follow that example.