Nutrition to Support A Healthy Heart

Every parent aspires to provide the best for their child, particularly when it comes to their heart health. Did you know that the foundation for a healthy heart begins with diet? Certain foods play a crucial role in influencing blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation – all significant risk factors for heart disease. In this updated guide, our in-house Dietitians Anna and Alex share valuable insights on incorporating heart-friendly habits into your child’s routine. We’ll also address common questions such as “How can I improve my child’s heart health?” and “How do you teach kids about heart health?”

1. Eat for Heart Health: A Holistic Approach

Ensuring your child’s heart health begins with a holistic approach to their diet. Emphasise the importance of eating for heart health, incorporating foods that positively influence blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation.

2. Healthy Heart Tips from Our Experts:

Our in-house Dietitians, Anna and Alex, share six essential tips for promoting heart health in children:

Fiber-Rich Diet:
Encourage the consumption of fibre-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Anna and Alex stress the significance of soluble fibre, found in oats for example, in lowering cholesterol levels.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
Highlight the importance of omega-3 fatty acids in maintaining heart health. Include sources like fatty fish, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts in your child’s diet.

Limit Unhealthy Fats:
Educate parents on the importance of reducing saturated fats, found in meats and processed foods. Emphasise the need for healthy fats like those in dairy products for young children.

Red Fruits and Vegetables:
Showcase the benefits of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant present in red fruits and vegetables, in promoting heart health.

Watch Added Sugars:
Stress the need to monitor and limit added sugars in a child’s diet. Explain the indirect connections between added sugars, liver health, and the risk of heart disease.

Talk About Heart Health:
Encourage age-appropriate conversations about the benefits of heart-healthy foods. Studies show that clearly communicating nutritional benefits helps children make healthy food decisions.

3. FAQs: Answering Common Queries on Kids’ Heart Health

How can I improve my child’s heart health?
Offer practical tips on diet, emphasising the inclusion of heart-healthy foods and regular physical activity.

What is good food for kids’ hearts?
Reiterate the importance of fibre-rich foods, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants from red fruits and vegetables.

How can I strengthen my child’s heart?
Emphasise a holistic approach, combining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and heart-friendly habits.

How do you teach kids about heart health?
Encourage conversations about the benefits of nutritious foods, tailored to their age and understanding.

Promoting heart health in children involves a combination of informed dietary choices, regular physical activity, and open communication. By following the expert tips from our in-house Dietitians and addressing common questions on kids’ heart health, parents can cultivate heart-friendly habits that will benefit their children in the long term.

If you need support or advice regarding your child’s diet, please speak with your Campus Director who can put you in touch with someone from our Nutrition team.

For information on our Dietitian-designed menu offerings at Only About Children see our Nutrition page.

For more good reading:

Brain Boosting Foods for Children – Only About Children (oac.edu.au)

5 Tips to Encourage Your Child Eating More Vegetables | OAC

Good Gut Health | Only About Children (oac.edu.au)

Ditching The Pram For The Scooter | Only About Children (oac.edu.au)