Social & Emotional Wellbeing

Nutrition to Support A Healthy Heart

Our in-house Dietitians Anna and Alex share their ‘6 Healthy Heart Tips’. Learn how you can support your child’s heart health and encourage positive eating habits at home!
Nutrition to Support A Healthy Heart 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)

 

Discover how Only About Children supports your child's development

Social & Emotional Wellbeing

Only About Children can help your child to grow, make friends and explore the world.

Only About Children can help your child to grow, make friends and explore the world.

Related Reads

The Best Family-Friendly Inner West Dining & Restaurants
The Best Family-Friendly Inner West Dining & Restaurants The Best Family-Friendly Inner West Dining & Restaurants
Local Campus News & Views
20 March 2025 7 minutes

The Best Family-Friendly Inner West Dining & Restaurants

Sydney’s Inner West is blessed with an abundance of outstanding places to eat out, and as local childcare experts with seven campuses across the area, we are passionate about finding local spots that are perfect for families.
The Best Playgrounds In The Inner West, Voted By Our Childcare Experts
The Best Playgrounds In The Inner West, Voted By Our Childcare Experts The Best Playgrounds In The Inner West, Voted By Our Childcare Experts
Local Campus News & Views
13 March 2025 11 minutes

The Best Playgrounds In The Inner West, Voted By Our Childcare Experts

With seven Only About Children campuses across Sydney’s Inner West, our team knows where to find the best local playgrounds for families. We’ve selected the best playgrounds in the Inner West offering fun play equipment, family-friendly facilities, and – of course – where to find a great coffee!
The Best Kid-Friendly Cafés Around Melbourne
The Best Kid-Friendly Cafés Around Melbourne The Best Kid-Friendly Cafés Around Melbourne
Local Campus News & Views
13 March 2025 6 minutes

The Best Kid-Friendly Cafés Around Melbourne

If you live in Melbourne or just visiting, here are some of our top child-friendly cafes you should check out. Aside from serving top-notch babyccinos, these kid-friendly cafés in Melbourne provide entertainment options to keep the little ones busy.  

Explore by Topic