Raising kids used to be a hard task before the evolution of social media and thanks to the internet, a lot of things are now easier than we imagined. On the positive side, we have access to all the information we need to ace parenting, but then it is also far easier for children to turn towards a not-so-healthy lifestyle with a constant supply of easily available and orderable junk food. However, in these times, it becomes more crucial than ever to find a way of raising children who are aware and conscious about their food choices and why they need to lead a healthier life. In the last of the three #TrasnformYourTeens webinar by Invisalign, moderator Tisca Chopra discusses this topic with noted nutritionist and diet expert Rujuta Diwekar and one of Mumbais leading orthodontists, Dr Jignesh Kothari.

Invisalign system is a next-gen teeth aligning tool that has truly transformed the world of orthodontics. Invisalign system has a series of removable and customized clear aligners, that is not just easier to manage but also helps kids to be more confident during and after their orthodontic treatment. It also helps avoid any inconvenience children could face while undergoing treatment with traditional braces. Invisalign has been striving to make life easier, not just for kids but also their parents. With their #TransformYourTeens webinars, they have guided parents on how to help their children grow more confident and be more comfortable and open. Their latest webinar has some brilliant anecdotes on leading children to choose healthier alternatives and help them say no to junk.

Beginning the hour-long session, mother and the talented actor, Tisca Chopra spoke about how this is a key part of parenting. One of the toughest parts of my journey in the past few years has been to strike a balance between my work and my family. As my little one is growing up, there are so many questions that come to our mind. Some I have answers to and some I dont. Well, in todays Invisalign #TransformYourTeens we discuss some of the topics that we have in our mind. The foundation of a healthy lifestyle starts much earlier from the very initial years of a childs life. They say you are what you eat and thats true, even more so for teeth and gums. We must take care of our childrens diets and meal plans from a very very young age.

She went on to introduce her fellow - panellists Rujuta Diwekar, who is Indias leading sports science and nutrition expert, and a vocal champion of uncomplicating the act of eating right, and Dr Jignesh Kothari who is a well-practicing orthodontist with over 18 years of experience, specializing in invisible braces that make use of the most advanced technology in this segment- the Invisalign system.

The webinar extensively covered various key issues like the dietary choices that young children are currently making, how parents can help them navigate towards healthier alternatives, and of course, the lesser-known connection between teeth alignment and healthy eating habits.

Talking about parents role in helping their children lead a healthier life, Rujuta Diwekar said, I think the most important thing for children to stay away, especially teens to stay away from junk is for them to identify what junk food is. Another thing that parents can do to keep their children healthy is to lead extremely healthy lives themselves. Because we are living in 2020, you cannot tell a child to do something that is opposing your practices. Kids watch and learn much more than they listen and learn.

When it comes to healthy eating, various food options are disputed and argued on. One such food item has to be nuts. Moderator Tisca Chopra posed this question to Rujuta and Dr Kothari and asked for their expert opinions. Heres what they said.

Dr Jignesh Kothari opines, I think nuts are very good. I have them every day, and so does my son. I think it should be a part of our everyday diet. Unfortunately, it is interesting that, with braces, they are prevented from having nuts, because they could break the braces. There is a massive list of dos and donts that came when a young child came to us to get fixed with conventional braces. Now, with the Invisalign system, which is removable, all my kids are free to eat everything. We encourage them to have badam and akhrot and everything. I think it is very healthy and they should have it every day.

Nutrition Expert Rujuta Diwekar says, I think every raging teenager should have at least a handful of cashews every day. Also, some growing children have these growing pains. So a handful of peanuts is really good for them. Walnuts, badam, pista- these are what they should be eating. Useful in fibre, an easy source of Vitamin B and great in taste, they make for an excellent quick snack and a much healthier alternative. I think if you are going to get dental help to take better care of your oral health, it should empower you to eat everything healthy instead of preventing you from eating food that is critical for your growth stage.

See the article here:
Raising kids with a healthier lifestyle: Watch experts find easy solutions - Times of India