10 Tips for Parents to Help Children Eat Healthily on Vacation

- Make sure your child’s plate includes all food groups. Encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
- Offer light, low-fat meals during mealtimes.
- Keep portion sizes small for your child.
- Avoid simple carbohydrates like pasta, rice, and potatoes, as they can cause sudden drops in blood sugar in hot weather. Instead, opt for complex carbs such as bulgur or whole wheat pasta, which maintain more stable blood sugar levels.
- Don’t allow your child to skip breakfast during vacation. Ensure they eat breakfast early in the day.
- Choose iron-, calcium-, and carbohydrate-rich foods such as eggs, milk, and dairy products for breakfast. Try to avoid processed foods like jam, salami, or sausages that contain additives.
- Don’t let your child snack on junk food between meals. Prevent this by making sure they don’t skip main meals throughout the day.
- Since your child’s appetite may decrease in hot weather, support their nutrition with healthy snacks. Offer low-calorie, water-rich foods such as fruit or cucumbers. Avoid packaged, high-calorie, fatty, and salty snacks.
- Remember that due to increased physical activity and heat during summer holidays, your child’s need for fluids will rise. Encourage water intake by using colorful water bottles or adding fruit slices to the water.
- When your child is thirsty, do not offer sugary drinks as a substitute for water.