There’s been a great deal of attention paid lately to the issue of childhood obesity, and with good reason. To help your children avoid becoming one of the statistics, here are some strategies to consider.

 

First, you need to take a look at your own state of health and fitness. Children view their parents as role models, so your attitude to food and exercise will be copied by your children.

 

Do you play a team sport or exercise regularly yourself? Active families tend to produce active children.

 

If you habitually drive the kids to school, and don’t already exercise yourself, why not start walking to school with them. Most children can easily handle a walk of two to three kilometers. If you’re concerned about their heavy school bags, help to carry them. Your time walking and talking about their day at school can be beneficial for your relationship with them too.

 

What’s in the lunchbox? Perhaps consider including some fresh fruit, already cut into segments; some nuts and seeds with yoghourt, a sandwich with protein and salad, or some home made dip with carrot sticks. This kind of food is relatively unprocessed, full of vitamins and minerals. The higher fibre content of unprocessed foods and the inclusion of protein will help keep their blood sugar levels stable.

 

Take a trip to the supermarket….without the children. Lollies and other fast foods are deliberately presented at eye level for little people. Give yourself a break from the requests for lollies and shop alone, while the kids are at school. If your children are under school age, consider asking another parent to exchange babysitting with you so you can shop undisturbed. Take the kids shopping with you once they’re old enough to start learning about good food choices.

 

Look in your kitchen – what sort of foods are in the cupboard? Although you may have lots of fresh fruit food in the fridge, hungry children and tired parents will inevitably choose the easy food first – usually packaged and processed foods. Its far easier to just not keep it on hand - and try other strategies instead.

 

When the kids get home from school, have healthy food already prepared for them to devour: Try home made dips and vegetable sticks; home made soup; fruit smoothies, reheated leftovers from last night’s meal. The trick is to have something that’s easy to present, quickly, as children are often ravenous when they get home.

 

If you’re not sure what foods really are healthy, seek professional advice, or borrow some books on children's nutrition from the library. Your child will be healthier as a result, less likely to become one of the obesity statistics, and your health will benefit too.

 

 

 

Article © Olwen Anderson, 2008

Childhood Obesity—How To Avoid It