Biilianina Konstantinova emphasises that parents play a crucial role in establishing lifelong healthy eating habits for children through modelling behaviour and creating positive routines, highlighting the importance of moderation over rigid rules.
Healthy eating is learned over time, and parents play the biggest part in shaping it, Biliana Konstantinova has said. Speaking to Bulgaria ON AIR, the cooking platform representative argued that children absorb food habits at home long before they can make fully informed choices for themselves.
Konstantinova said the example set by adults matters as much as the food on the table. If a family eats well, she said, children are more likely to come to value food that is both enjoyable and nourishing. She also suggested that a child’s preference for sweets is natural, but that parents still influence how that instinct is channelled.
Her message was one of moderation rather than rigid rules. According to Konstantinova, the harder task for many parents is explaining why a child cannot simply eat whatever they see others eating. She said the aim should be to build awareness, not to push children towards extremes.
That advice closely matches guidance from US health organisations. Healthline and the Cleveland Clinic both say children are more likely to develop healthy habits when parents model them, keep meals positive and involve children in choosing or preparing food. The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases likewise stresses that children benefit when adults practise healthy routines alongside them, including regular physical activity and enough sleep.
UNICEF and Harvard Health have also warned that eating habits formed in childhood can last well into adult life. Johns Hopkins Medicine says regular family meals can support better nutrition and healthier behaviour over time, reinforcing the point that good habits are not built through lectures alone, but through daily routine.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
