There's no denying that the food children are fed affects them later in their life. Obesity, diabetes and tooth-loss are relatively common in the western lifestyle. The amount of saturated fats, sugars and salts that are consumed - perhaps unknowingly - by the child, over their childhood years can become very dangerous. Research also shows that food can be responsible for behaviour disorders in children, so it really is essential that you feed your child a healthy diet.

The advantages

Even minor dietary changes can make a huge impact on your child's life. These include more energy, a positive attitude, less teeth fillings and dental work, the opportunity to excel at sports, a stronger immune system, reduced risks of heart disease, cancer, and depression to name a few relatively short-term changes. If you manage to ensure your child is fed healthy food, you are setting them up for a lifetime of healthy eating and cooking, and you are teaching them the importance of self-worth.

Many healthy meals can be made quickly, easily, and on a budget. Often cheaper than the processed food alternatives that many people choose over healthy food. Healthy food looks appetizing with its many colors, smells and feel instead of the fast-food 'gloop' that you will quickly hate again.

So what can you do?

Living a healthy life is about the right mindset. By adjusting the food that you feed your child, it will teach them about the importance of eating healthy food, which will hopefully continue throughout their life. You don't have to necessarily teach that certain foods are bad - they're not - just too much of certain foods are bad. The problem is where do you draw the line between enough and too much?