Obesity and Your Child

Obesity is an issue for many children nationally today. In America it is not uncommon to see a child who is substantially overweight at three and four years old and who remains overweight even at twelve and thirteen. What is happening? We have many food additives, preservatives and dyes in our foods. We also have growth hormones in our milk, meats and even eggs. Other countries are taking active roles in warning people of the dangers of certain additives such as in Europe where there are warnings labels for children on foods that contain food dyes that cause hyperactivity in children. However, here in America we seem to endorse poor eating from our commercials to our school cafeterias.

Here are some things that can be done to reduce obesity in the home:

Breakfast: Prepare breakfast at home again. Eggs, toast, glass of milk or orange juice. Pancakes with honey or maple syrup or pancakes with fruit topping. (No more high sugar syrup) Oatmeal made at home with brown sugar and a touch of maple sugar. You will find that your child's activity level settles down after about four days and that even their grades begin to improve.

Snacks: Remove unhealthy snacks such as Pop Tarts and packaged snacks such as cupcakes and pies. they contain food dye, chemicals, and additives that cause cravings. Replace these snacks with lite popcorn and nuts and berries and fruit. Fresh baked goods are a much better snack than factory made and packaged snacks. Have healthy dip and veggies available in the fridge. Raid your freezer and trade the sugary colored popsicles and ice cream for all natural popsicles made from juice and frozen yogurt.

Lunches: Add a balanced lunch. Remove excess bread. Add salad to kids meals. Add tomatoes and lettuce to sandwiches. Remove all colas and sodas. Encourage children to drink water with meals rather than juice which is high in calories and sugar. Give children fruit in their lunches daily. Have your child bring a packed lunch from home and remove the extra calories and sugar found in the school lunches across most of America.
Remove all packaged snacks and high sugar foods from the house.

Dinners: Remove microwaveable fast food and introduce homemade meals. Their calorie and salt intact will decrease greatly by removing these quick processed dinners. Place fruit out in visible locations for children to eat after dinner rather than cake or traditional desert. Create a stir fry with lots of veggies and a tasty sauce (tricking them into enjoying vegetables). Provide vegetables at each dinner. Steam fresh vegetables and introduce the taste of health to your child.

Exercise: Get help if needed from a facility in your area that focuses on helping children with obesity. Your school may be able to connect you with a nutritionist and the gym teacher may have some ideas to introduce activity to your child's daily life. Create a active hobby that you both can share such as tennis, racket ball, soccer, basketball, biking, roller blading. There are fun activities that will trick your child into enjoying movement that will result in weight loss.

The key to weight loss is self discipline. Our children rely on us to create boundaries and restrictions until they are old enough to create them for themselves. All that they learn as a child in self control and right eating habits will improve their future. A healthy future will be theirs to enjoy.