I used to gets particular upset with my kids every mealtime, they won't finish their foods. I'm upset because unfinished foods means food waste. I always feel guilty about wasting food. My mom said, 'children do not need as much food as adults. They just need about half the portion of an adult.' 'If you continue serving them large portion of food, they will tend to eat bigger portion sizes,' says mom.
Practicing healthy portion control is important to keep children at their healthy weight. Lesson learned #1. Thanks mom. As a matter of fact, I'm afraid the kids didn't get enough food, or maybe they will get hungry before next meal so I always try to provide them enough food to eat and make sure they finish it. Portion sizes are often overlooked!
In the United States, 1 in every 3 kids is overweight or obese. This is an alarming statistic! Obese children tend to remains obese as an adult. Obesity is a health concern since it increases the risk of serious medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and many more.
As parents or other concerned adults, what steps can we take to help prevent obesity in our children?
1. Keeping portion size under control
I have learned how to determine portion sizes for my kids. It's also important for me to help them learn to take responsibility for their own portions. Teach the kids portion sizes by using your hand.
2. Healthier alternatives
If you do have a child or children who have weight issues, never talk to them about diet and exercise. This is based from my own experience, it will really impact them in a negative, emotional way. What you can do is find healthier alternatives. For example, if they like sweet foods, start having them eat more fruit. Maybe dip bananas or strawberries in dark chocolate. Create a supportive environment. Move tempting foods out of sight in cupboards or in the refrigerator. Find a fun workout DVD you can do together as a family.
3. Teach nutrition to children
Start showing them how to read the labels. Let them help you prepare healthy food. Tell them about what you are making and why it’s good for your body.
3.Be a good role model
If your children see you eating your vegetables, being active, and limiting your TV time, there’s a good chance that they will do the same. These habits will also have the happy side effect of helping you maintain a healthy weight.
4. Distributes educational materials
Having a friendly children's books can inspire children and parents to eat healthier and live more nutritionally fit through education. My children and I are currently reading a book "Larvie Learns a Lesson."
About the Book: "Larvie Learns a Lesson"
Larvie Learns a Lesson written by Mickey Seger, MD, Melinda V. Gonzales, PA-C, and Terive Duperier, MD. They work in a medical practice in San Antonio called the Bariatric Medical Institute of Texas (BMI of Texas) and are specializes in medical and surgical weight management. Concern were raised about children being overweight or obese. Hence this book is use as a way of teaching children of what to eat and what not to eat, making them more aware of the consequences of their bad choices.
Larvie Learns a Lesson tells the story of a caterpillar that had eating habits that he does not realize are unhealthy until he finds himself in a dilemma. He breaks his bad eating habits and exercise more with the help of his doctor. His healthy lifestyle does not only cures his high blood and diabetes, he also becomes an inspiration to his fellow bug friends.
Larvie Learns a Lesson tells the story of a caterpillar that had eating habits that he does not realize are unhealthy until he finds himself in a dilemma. He breaks his bad eating habits and exercise more with the help of his doctor. His healthy lifestyle does not only cures his high blood and diabetes, he also becomes an inspiration to his fellow bug friends.
This book has only 15 pages and has great, colorful illustrations. The prints are large, and widely spaced making the words easier to read. This is a younger children's brilliant book for reading with parents. My younger child is not reading yet, but he enjoys the book and loves for me to read to him. Since he cannot read it for himself, the next best thing is to memorize it. This book has becomes his favorite and he wants to hear me read the book over and over. I think it's perfectly normal for preschooler to want to hear the same book over and over again. Moments like this are important opportunities for parents or teacher to teach the children about healthy habits. Children are watching characters from school reading books and library books, as models.
If you're interested to have this book as your educational support material or if you need more information about healthy living and managing obesity, check out BMI of Texas.
Do you have any other ideas, what steps can we take to help prevent obesity in our children?
Please write your thought in the comments.
It's such a good idea to do what you can to help your kids have a healthy start in life!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Rachel. I hope by instilling a healthy lifestyle in the children when they are young can help build the framework for an entire lifetime of healthy habits.
ReplyDeleteChild obesity is sad. There's a lot that you can do to support your children. Studies show the best thing is to be healthy yourself.
ReplyDeletehttp://phentera.com/