| The number one health issue in the U.S. for | | | | caloric intake for a child of that age and size. A |
| children today is obesity. There have been many | | | | doctor will be able to help you determine what a |
| studies done recently on percentages, reasons, | | | | healthy caloric intake should be. |
| etc, but everyone agrees that something must | | | | Once some parameters are set, then a child's diet |
| be done to change this epidemic or the number | | | | will need to be adjusted accordingly. For some it |
| of children with weight related health issues will | | | | may be helpful to wean down on certain foods so |
| skyrocket. Also, as this generation grows up they | | | | they do not experience a crash from not having |
| will become a generation of very unhealthy adults. | | | | a certain food in their diet, like carbohydrates or |
| Exercise and increasing metabolism is a huge part | | | | sugary foods. |
| in the plan for decreasing obesity, but another | | | | As with other things in a child's life, they are more |
| area of concern is in the food the kids are eating | | | | likely to succeed at something if they are being |
| and the foods they are not eating in their regular | | | | modeled that behavior by an adult. So, this is |
| diets. If we as adults would keep a journal of the | | | | where the whole family can get involved. The |
| things we eat we would see that we are probably | | | | pantry, fridge and cabinets will need to be cleared |
| not getting the foods we need in our diets, but it | | | | of the foods and drinks that are not helping, for |
| seems much more so for kids. They are often | | | | example, the sugary, empty calorie snacks and |
| not given good healthy choices for food at their | | | | candies, sodas, etc. These may be okay on |
| schools, events, etc. So many times in classes or | | | | occasion, but should not be a part of our daily |
| other sessions kids are given candy as a reward. | | | | diet. |
| Even at school, where most of the time, kids are | | | | We seem to hear more about what we can't |
| left to choose their own foods, poor choices are | | | | have instead of what we can have. There are so |
| being made leading to unbalanced meals. Kids need | | | | many foods that can be used to replace foods |
| to be taught about healthy choices and may even | | | | we don't need regularly. The internet has so many |
| need some guidelines to go by at school, so they | | | | ideas and useful recipes for low fat, low carb |
| know what they can and cannot choose. | | | | recipes, as well as healthy snacks. You may |
| The first step to evaluating what your kids are | | | | choose to follow a diet plan outlined in a book, but |
| eating, is to keep a record of the food they are | | | | check with your doctor first before starting a |
| eating on a daily basis-how much and what kind. If | | | | child on a set diet. Usually by reducing the amount |
| they are older, they may not like you recording | | | | of unnecessary food, unhealthy food and |
| their every nibble, but it is important for both the | | | | increasing healthy foods, like fruit and vegetables |
| child and the adult to see what they are actually | | | | and lean meats, a child's weight can begin to |
| consuming regularly. If a doctor is involved, they | | | | reduce quickly. Of course, exercise is a strong |
| will have you do this step anyway. Once the type | | | | part of this process by increasing metabolism to |
| and amount of food being consumed is recorded, | | | | burn off the excess weight. |
| compare that to a chart of what is the normal | | | | |