12 Ways Dads Can And Should Teach Their Kid About Healthy Eating
byJennifer Germano
While the idea of a "normal family" is changing, and gender roles are becoming less and less important, society still insists that moms are the main caretakers, and any other parents (especially the dad) are secondary "helpers." Yeah, no. While two parents isn't necessary for a child to grow up in a healthy, stable and fulfilling environment, when two parents are present, they should be equally present. So, it's no surprise that there are things dads can and should teach their kids, especially when it comes to healthy eating and cooking. Gone are the days when the kitchen was simply "mom's territory." Now, everyone cooks.
In my house, I am not the only one in the kitchen or cleaning the house. Instead, my partner and I take turns taking care of any cleaning and cooking duties (and, sometimes and if our schedules aline, we clean and cook together). We've found a balance where our parental and adult responsibilities are shared equally, regardless of our genders or what society arbitrarily decides one of us should or shouldn't do.
So, by rotating duties and sharing household responsibilities, we are showing our daughter that it's not automatically a mother's "job" to handle domestic issues. By having my partner teach her about healthy eating and cooking, she's not just reminded that everyone should be responsible for their own health and wellness, but that her place isn't "in the kitchen." She gets to be healthy and we get to smash the patriarchy, all at the same time. Win-win, you guys. So, dads, here are a few ways you can teach your kids to eat healthy and take care of their bodies: