Father's Day PSA: your kids are what you eat

Happy Father's Day but maybe hold the celebratory double-cheeseburger and fries.

In advance of the special day Sunday, the Canadian Men's Health Foundation is dispensing a little fatherly advice: your kids are what you eat.

According to a 2016 study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activityfatherly eating habits were one of the biggest influences over whether children grow up to be overweight or obese.

The father-son relationship outweighed that of mother and son as a determinant of future health,even when mom was doing most of the food preparation, according to Wayne Hartrick, president of the Canadian Men's Health Foundation.

"The children tended to mimic their father's eating behaviours more than their mothers," Hartrick said. "It's worth fathers thinking about that kids are just quietly mimicking their health behaviours."

Good dads = good health

Healthy family relationships also had a positive link to healthy eating. In looking at 6,300 individuals from 14 to 24 years old, researchers found that, particularly among males, those with a strong, positive relationship with their fathers had less likelihood of being overweight or obese.

Another study published in 2011 in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior suggests that children are more likely to pick up eating behaviours from their fathers than their mothers.

Researchers found that children were much more likely to choose fast-food restaurants if their fathers grabbed takeout on a regular basis.

There are a range of theories, Hartrick said, as to why dads appear to have such sway over their children's eating habits.

"The number of dual-income families has increased greatly in recent years," said Hartrick, "which means more fathers at home sharing the duties. Also, data from Health Canada shows on average Canadian families are spending 30 per centof their food income on processed, portable food, and kids are seeing their fathers eat it."

Small changes

For dads feeling a little concerned that their daily cheeseburger habit could be having an adverse effect on the kids, Hartrick said, the good news is that positive change isn't difficult to make.

"Half of Canadian men are completely inactive by the definition of activity," he said."So just get up and do something.

"Incorporate it in ways that are realistic and easy to do: park your car at the other end of the parking lots and walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Have three to five glasses of water per day instead of sugar-loaded pop. Over the burger and fries, maybe try half-fries, half-salad."

More painless tips geared at guys are available from the Canadian Men's Health Foundation at dontchangemuch.ca.

Whether you're obese or overweight or trim, the link between your eating habits and your kids is "a good thing for dads to know about."

"Not only should [dads] eat well for themselves," he said, "but they should know that the kids will be reflecting what they do."