Healthy Parents Equal 
A Healthy Child 

 Article brought to you by InfantsBabiesToddlers.com

Your child’s good health and eating habits are established early in life and it is solely your responsibility as a parent or primary care giver to set up healthy eating habits

Unfortunately, one out of every five children in the United States is now overweight, a number that is continuing to grow. In the last 30 years, the percentage of overweight children has more than doubled.

Overweight children are at risk for serious health problems like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, all of which were once considered adult diseases.

But overweight children may also be subject to low self-esteem, a result of being teased and bullied by peers. How sad that overweight children are often the last to be chosen as playmates, even as early as preschool. Studies show that if a child is unhappy with their body and weight, they may be more likely than average-weight children to develop unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and be more prone to depression and/or substance abuse.

Children become overweight for many reasons. Some of the most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. In rare cases, being overweight is caused by a medical problem.

But in today’s world, a child's total diet and activity level play an important role in determining a child's weight. Too many children spend a lot time being inactive. For example, the average child spends approximately 24 hours each week watching television! The number of hours of inactivity may only increase as computers and video games grow further in popularity.

I hate to sound like a whining old cow but I don’t remember ever watching television during daylight hours when I was a kid! There were too many things to do outside, running, jumping, chasing boys etc

But let’s get back to you and your baby.

Now that your baby is getting to the age of starting solid foods, it is the perfect time to re-examine your own eating habits and make changes for the better.  It will be harder to teach your kids good eating habits if you are munching on chocolate, crisps and soda constantly.  You need to be the good example for your child, someone they can look up to, to emulate.

Food variety, small regular meals, nutritious snacks and regular exercise are they key to good health. 

It’s easy to avoid the temptation of “bad” snacks if you don’t keep them in your house!  Fill your pantry and refrigerator with healthy, wholesome food such as wholegrain breads, pasta, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, low sugar yoghurt and cheeses.  And always make a list when you do your shopping to avoid impulse buys…while we’re talking about this, avoid shopping on an empty stomach as this also promotes impulse spending in the food department!

Family meals are a nice time for both parents and kids to just sit down and be together, something that’s becoming quite difficult to do in this busy world we live in. What better way to catch up with those you love, than over a fabulous dinner?

And did you know…

Youngsters who participate in regular family meals are also:

*  more likely to eat grains, fruits and vegetables

*  less likely to waste snack times on unhealthy foods

*  less likely to smoke or drink alcohol

Apart from those huge benefits, family meals is a great time to introduce your child to new foods and find out which foods your child likes and which ones he or she doesn't.

Children, especially the younger ones, mostly will eat what's on hand at home in the kitchen. That's why it's critical to be in control of the foods that you serve for meals and have available for snacks.

It’s easy to avoid the temptation of “bad” snacks if you don’t keep them in your house!  Fill your pantry and refrigerator with healthy, wholesome food such as wholegrain breads, pasta, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, low sugar yoghurt and cheeses.  And always make a list when you do your shopping to avoid impulse buys…while we’re talking about this, avoid shopping on an empty stomach as this also promotes impulse spending in the food department!

Follow these basic guidelines:

* Make fruits and vegetables part of you daily routine, aiming for 5 servings a day.

*  Keep fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat so that it is an easy choice for you kids to make should they get hungry. Other good snacks include yogurt or whole-grain crackers and cheese.

* Meats should be lean.  Other good sources of protein are eggs and nuts.

* Opt for whole-grain breads and cereals as this means more fiber.

* Don’t over-indulge on fats by deep-frying foods. Choose healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting and steaming.

* Go slow on the fast food and other low-nutrient snacks such as sweets. Don't ban favorite snacks completely from your home, though. Make them "once-in-a-while" foods, so your child doesn't feel like they’re missing out on something.

* Limit drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. A better option would be water and milk.

Article brought to you by InfantsBabiesToddlers.com