Healthy food choices should begin at an early age

Everyone spends a great deal of their time watching television, especially young children. Watching TV can influence what your child says, does and even eats.

If a child sees people eating unhealthy foods and are happy about it, chances are they will want to do the same thing. It is a natural reaction to want what looks good on TV.

The worst thing is when you tell a child what not to eat because it makes them want it that much more. Face it—we have all been there and done that.

Every time our parents would say we were not allowed to do something or have something, we would get it one way or another, or at least try.

I will admit that I can still be a little stubborn sometimes. I hate being told I am not able to have something.

On the plus side, children's television shows seem to be more positive and have a healthier influence on what kids eat. Seeing it on TV makes kids want to eat it. Let them make their own decisions sometimes on what they eat; they may surprise you and pick something healthy.

This can help the rate of child obesity decrease in America too.

They will make the right choices eventually and start to eat healthy. They just need a little guidance like we all do. You can help by looking up healthy foods online, cooking in the kitchen and letting them watch.

This can also help you if you want to eat healthier.

The one thing that surprised me, however, when looking up articles about healthy foods, was that garlic of all things was in the top ten lists of healthiest foods as stated in an article on fitnessmagazine.com.

The article said that garlic is actually a powerful disease fighter. Allicin, which is found in garlic, works as a potent anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol and lowers blood pressure levels.

It still blows my mind that garlic was on the list next to things like broccoli and salmon.

Even dark chocolate was on the list.

You may be thinking to yourself, what makes a "healthy" food? Healthnews.ediets.com says unprocessed whole foods are the best. They give you the biggest bang for your buck.

We should be eating more foods like this and showing children that these are the right choices when it comes to food.