Establishing good eating habits in children can prevent a lifetime of struggle with health related issues that accompany excess body weight and/or obesity.
To help children eat healthy and maintain appropriate body weight your pediatrician can give you information about the best weight range for your child’s height and age. For more information about appropriate body mass visit the CDC Web site.
Managing weight with a balance of healthy foods, reasonable portions, and good eating habits (like
not eating to deal with stress, boredom, or eating on the run) are ways to help maintain a lifetime diet that doesn’t deprive you or your child of foods you love. Treats now and then are fine – a Sundae once a month as opposed to a month of Sundaes.
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| Fresh veggies |
Prepare healthy snacks in the morning – peel carrots, wash fruit, cut up apple slices – and have them ready to reach for when your child is hungry. Skip the fries and sodas 99% of the time.
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| Orange and Dates for dessert |
Find alternative activities to keep your child happy, instead of trying to keep them happy with food.
Talk with them about how different foods help – or harm – their bodies. Help them stay hydrated by offering water and keeping a supply of water handy for them on trips.
Get out and enjoy walks or bike rides together, read books, and find activities you enjoy doing together to keep your bodies in good shape and minds alert.
Sometimes cravings for foods will go away if you are distracted or can relax and reduce stress. A microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers may help you relax tense muscles and help you deal with stress in a positive way -- and with no calories. Cute Penguins and Bunnies, bed and body warmers are perfect to help children warm up and chill out.
