5 A Day is a slogan put out by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It suggests that eating five portions of fruits & vegetables every day will lead to a healthier life.This sounds great in theory, but turns out to be hard in practice, especially when we try to implement it for our children.

Imagine a day in the life of a child. From the time they wake up to the moment they once more lay their heads on the pillow at night, we fill their days with activities and toys and television. They are often toted around with mom and dad who take little time to promote a healthy diet in their hurry to get through the day.

From the start, pregnant moms often forget to eat a healthy diet in favor of what’s most “convenient”. But getting your children started eating right begins in the womb. If babies experience healthy foods in utero and at the breast, they’ll be more likely to want them later in their lives too. And not only that, children who are fed right from the beginning will be healthier and stronger throughout their lives.

Of course, children’s eating habits, good or bad, are not just gained from experience in the womb or at the breast. Children learn by example too. Parents should always remember that they are being closely watched by little eyes. So eating healthy is just as important for mom and dad as it is for the kids.

Keep your children away from all the junk food ads that can hit them on television or the computer. Instead, encourage them to have fun staying active and give them healthy snack options.

Limit your trips to fast food restaurants. No more eating on the go! These “quick fixes” at dinner time do more harm than good. Too often we justify them because of the time they save, but in the long run, shortening our lives and compromising our health is not what we want for us or our kids.

For example, fast food and eating on the go are more convenient. We ignore the fact that they cause damage to our own bodies and to the welfare of our children. Instead of us instilling good eating habits in our children, we take shortcuts, dropping by for a sausage and egg biscuit on the way to work or picking up pizza for dinner. I understand that most of us are always on the go and it is difficult to cook meals regularly. But there are tons and tons of activities we choose over spending time in the kitchen.

So what solutions are available to us? First, although it is often hard to cook meals regularly, we need to recognize the importance of doing it anyway. Fixing a good healthy meal at home puts the control in our hands and enables us to give our kids the 5 A Day they need. Take an inventory of all the things you choose to do rather than eat at home. You may be able to find a way to make some time – for the good of your family.

Healthy eating is not a fad. It is not to be a once in a while treat. 5 A Day and eating healthy must become a habitual part of our lifestyle. Ultimately, our health and our quality of life depend on it. When we choose healthy eating and healthy living, we extend our quality of life and extend our ability to live a normal life. All of this starts with a simple change in our eating habits.

If we can’t incorporate healthy eating into our daily lives, we are going to have a very difficult time repairing all the damage caused by our actions. Fruits and veggies play a big role in keeping our bodies’ cells healthy and in neutralizing the free radicals in our bodies. 5 A Day should not just be a slogan, it is a fact. Making five servings of fruits and vegetable a regular part of our lives leads to healthier parents, children, and families.

Tony Khatemi is a Vegetarian with over 25 years in the field of exercise, nutrition and healthy living focused on digestive health. Living by example is his motto. Pickup a free reports on fruits and vegetable capsules . for the most natural and effective supplements in the world. Please type IBD, IBS, Crohn’s or any GIIBD, IBS, Crohn’s or any GI related disease in the search box for results.