Tips to help your child eat healthy and lose weight.

Your child may not want to lose weight, but you know that obesity puts him or her at risk for heart disease, Diabetes, and other illnesses. Here are a few tips that might help you help him or her.

Keep a journal with your child. Write down realistic goals for helping your child lose weight, but goal number one should be making good food choices to help feel better for a lifetime, not just for a few moments of pleasure. Have a conversation about it with your child about how positive changes in a healthy lifestyle can help him or her enjoy life more. Leave out the negative or any scolding. Keep it light and short, and know it will take time to achieve your goals.

You are the model. Model the behavior you would like to see your child mimic, and you will both feel better physically and mentally. Allow small amounts of treats. I read a sign on an ice cream stand once that said, "A Sundae once a month won't hurt you, but a month of Sundaes will."

Let your thinking – not your emotions - lead you. Become aware of the times when you reach for food to feel better. Find activities that you and your child like to do instead of eating.

Have fun. Go outside for a walk or hike together and guide the conversation to things your child enjoys. I had to demand that my two sons walk with me as they grew. They didn't want to go, but once we got out there they enjoyed it. Today they make healthy lifestyle choices that have kept their weight down and kept them in good physical condition. If you lecture or make it unpleasant then the child will balk at going again. Laugh, joke and praise. Ask your son or daughter what physical activities he/she would enjoy and try to incorporate them into your schedules as much as possible.

Educate yourself and your child. Learn what different foods do to help your body grow and perform at its best. Teach your child about these foods and you will be giving him or her information that will help make healthy life-long eating choices.

Feeling stressed or sad? Do not eat to make yourself feel better when you are feeling sad or stressed. In the end it will make you feel worse. Try some relaxation techniques to help you through difficult times.

Hunger is a natural side-effect of losing weight. Use Full Back Warmer, a microwave heating pad, on the abdomen for stomach discomfort, on the back, or around the shoulders to help relax tense muscles. If you know a kid or kid at heart who is making lifestyle changes you might consider a gift of a Al-The-Gator to provide comforting companionship and heat. It has no calories and lasts for years.