Half-term is here and, with it, a glitter explosion of epic proportions. I have an all-or-nothing approach to children’s crafts and am liberal with the supplies. But my real mistake was baking while the girls completed their masterpieces. I could barely yell “don’t take the lid off” across the kitchen before 47,000 particles of glitter became airborne. Ah well. Most things look better with glitter on them anyway.

It was a lighthearted antidote to our morning spent down at the Preserve Marriage/marriage equality rally. The event was completely peaceful but there was some heavy-duty conversation in the car. My children are only 5 and 8 so I was light on the detail but I tried to explain to them the different perspectives involved.

I watched them think about everything I was saying, trying to process it all. It was amazing how well they got it but, at the same time, they absolutely looked to me for the “right” answer. I explained my viewpoint and because they’re not really old enough to challenge it, they took it on. I was proud of them, but I was also very aware that this was taught behaviour. A little scary, really.

It’s just one example of how being raised a certain way can influence your views on religious, political or social issues — and how viewpoints of bias or prejudice can self-perpetuate through generations. I know there comes a point where lots of children question their “norm”, but there are plenty who don’t.

Occasionally, when it comes to healthy eating, I’ll be told my children are brainwashed. It always gets a reaction from me because I am instantly defensive, but I suppose in a way it’s true.

I am raising them with a certain food philosophy — that real food is more nourishing than junk food and that the food we buy lets manufacturers know what food standards we are OK with (and which ones we’re not). It doesn’t mean they never ask for exciting-looking artificial stuff, but they are generally on board.

However, the longer I work in the nutrition field, the more I realise that some of what I follow comes down to opinion. Do I look for evidence-based research? Absolutely. But having chased down threads and articles galore, I am pretty confident you can find the data to prove almost anything.

Dig into Paleo v vegan research for example and then have fun solving that conundrum (although the solution is probably not to solve it at all …. I don’t think there is one right or wrong way).

On the other hand, there are some basics which are pretty clear-cut. If you want to start a food philosophy conversation at home, here are four simple concepts to start with. They will provide good talking points at dinner and are a great way to get your children thinking.

Eat well to feel better, not to live longer

What age do they want to live to? What do they think they’ll be doing at that age? What would they be doing if they could choose? I want to live to be 100. Mainly because I want a letter from the Queen and to see how we ride out this social media madness. Also, because I want to be with my family for as long as possible. But being 100 will be more fun if I am mobile and mentally sharp. I’d like to be walking along the beach with my cronies and whipping up green smoothies in the kitchen.

I’d like to add years to my life, but most importantly I’d like to add life to my years. Upshot: there’s no doubt that eating better helps you get the most out of every single day. And if eating better gives you more energy, focus, strength and speed and less anxiety, fatigue, moodiness and pain, then there’s your motivation. Once children have grasped the link between what they eat and how they feel, they might divert along the way, but they are usually happy to make healthy their norm.

Think about the dog

Would they give soda to a dog? How about some chips? What about the twizzlers?

Often when I’m discussing junk food vices with my clients, I’ll ask them, “Would you give that to a dog?”. Most children understand that giving a dog soda or a bag of chips would be a bad idea. Why? Because it’s not good for them. When you ask a child, “then why is it OK for you?”, it really makes them think. Feeding dogs junk food would put them at risk of obesity and disease. The same applies to humans, even if the timeframe is different.

Vote with your dollars

When we spend money at the store, where does it go? As consumers, what we buy casts an influential vote that really can make a difference. Sure our money goes to the owners of the grocery store, but they use it to buy more of the food we like. So our money also makes its way to food manufacturers.

It’s a good idea to get your children thinking about where their food comes from and what it took to get that food to their plate. What were the environmental or ethical costs involved? For older children, watching documentaries such as Food, Inc and Fed Up can be really helpful for driving these points home.

Eating local

What’s better? Food that was grown in Bermuda, or food that has been flown in? What food is grown here and what do we have to buy in stores?

Locally grown produce is nutrient-dense and supports the local economy. It’s also a great lesson to go to the actual farm and to witness vegetables being pulled out of the ground. If you ask your child where carrots come from and they say “Lindo’s”, you need to go back to basics.

Growing your own produce is a fantastic idea, too, especially as children are more likely to try what they grew or made themselves. I just hope your gardening skills are better than mine (and that you don’t have cats that sit in the pots).

• The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns BA Hons, Dip ION is the managing director of Natural Ltd and a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. For details, please go to www.natural.bm or call 236-7511. Join Catherine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nutrifitandnaturalnutritionbermuda