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This guest post is from Kumon.

These days, a lot is being said about the importance of children living a healthy lifestyle. Parents want their children to grow up healthy and strong. Here are three no-nonsense tips mothers everywhere can use to help direct their children toward more healthy choices, now and in the future.

Lead by Example

Whenever you can show your children the importance you place on taking care of yourself and your body, seize the opportunity to do so. The more they see you striving to live a more balanced and healthy life, the more likely they will be to follow suit.

Know What Your Child Is Eating

Have you ever read the ingredients of some of the foods your children are eating? Not only are some of the ingredients difficult to pronounce, but it is also not always obvious what they are or why they are in the food. Now you can obtain a greater understanding with The Dictionary of Food Ingredients. This book is full of information about ingredients such as algin, a substance used in ice cream, puddings, icings and “fabricated fruit.” That’s right, fake fruit. Use a resource such as this book to help you make healthy choices.

Be Honest

Children seek out honesty, even if it changes their perspective on the world they live in. If your children look at you with those inquisitive eyes and ask why they can no longer have a certain snack, be honest. Tell them it’s because they contain unhealthy ingredients. Share with them the science behind food processing in words they can understand. And reassure them that you will always be there to make sure the foods they eat will be good for them.

My last decisions post was two weeks ago. What is my excuse? If I said I was busy, it would be true. However, my real excuse is that my kids and I have been sick. My son came down with a cold and fever a week and a half ago. The fever came and went for several days. A couple of days after he got sick, his sister came down with a milder version of it. Then by the weekend I was feeling symptoms of the same thing. So instead of writing about the decision I made the week before and sharing my next decision, I just took care of my kids and myself and said I could wait until next week.

My decision two weeks ago was:

I determine to make my relationship with God the #1 priority in my life.

Did I succeed? To be brutally honest, no. I allowed life, sick children, my own illness, and other factors to fill up my time. I slept in and not lost the early morning time, when I can focus best.

But I am not going to be discouraged by failure. “When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8. Instead, I am going to make this decision my decision for the coming week and really make time this week. Especially first thing in the morning.

And right now, that means finishing a chapter in the book my prayer partner and I are reading together. Because that book is about Jesus, and learning more of Him will make spending time with Him more precious.

Now it’s your turn. What decision have you made this week? Share with the link-up tool or in the comments. If you haven’t participated before, please read the instructions first.

Part 5 of my son’s story with eczema brings us up to date with where we are at the moment. I’ll be sure to let you know about all future updates.

Also, I should take a moment to mention my sudden silence here this week. I have been reevaluating the use of my time and the goals I have set for this blog, and realized that they don’t fit with where I want to go and what I want to be. I’ll write more about that later. Thank you for understanding in the mean time.