What does it take to be a healthy eater? I don’t know that I can fully answer that. But there are some special ways we should be introducing foods and healthy habits to our children.

Next year restaurants will begin listing the calorie content of foods that are being served. This is going to give us some strong indication of foods that we probably should be careful about overeating. Some think this is a good idea and others are reluctant. Some people don’t want to know.

My major concern about healthy eating is for children. Perhaps that is because I think older people are tougher to reach to make major changes in lifestyle. But hopefully I am wrong. I think these calorie counters could help all of us.

Take a look at your own eating habits and evaluate where you think you are. This is a good time with New Year’s Resolutions coming up. Maybe the resolution should not be to take off 10 pounds but to at least not put on 10 pounds. Maybe it should be to pay attention to what you eat and even why you eat it.

Today one of three children is considered overweight or obese. These are people who tomorrow will have the major health problems.

Take a look at your own children. Do you have a child who is overweight? How about just a bit chubby? What do you think you should do about it? Or better yet, what are you doing about it?

If it is just a minor problem, take a look at your shopping basket. Are there some things you should put back and not bring home to have in your cupboard to tempt anyone? How about buying fruit instead of juice? How about baking your chicken instead of frying it? How about cutting down on the butter you use in cooking?

Are salads a regular part of your meals? How frequently are pizza and fast food a part of your regular meals?

Get help

If it is a major problem, give your physician a call and get some help. Sometimes a visit to talk about ways to improve your health is just as important as going to talk about a broken bone or an unknown lump.

• Don’t try to eliminate all sugar from your 8-year-old’s diet. A small bowl of ice cream isn’t the problem.

• It is OK to say no dessert if you don’t eat your dinner.

• It also is important to have vegetables and salad on every plate.

• Don’t eliminate letting your child go out for Halloween but do eliminate her eating all her candy in a couple of days.

• Don’t focus on losing weight in your home; focus on healthy eating.

• Don’t eliminate after-school snacks; have fruit and other healthy food available each day.

• Check what your child is eating for lunch. Does he pack his lunch or buy it at school? See what is in either one.

But don’t only look at what you eat; look at what you do. Is your child an active child? Does he get involved in physical play? How much walking and running and jumping does she do? Is she involved in any athletic activities at school?

How much of his time is spent in front of a screen just watching or clicking?

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.