| Dealing with an overweight child can be a very | | | | eating. If you have a child that loves juice tell |
| delicate situation. We do not want to damage | | | | them they can only have juice if they drink and |
| their self esteem by telling them they are fat or | | | | equivalent amount of water first. If you have a |
| lazy, yet at the same time they must be | | | | child that's use to grabbing a handful of cookies |
| conscious that they have to be more aware of | | | | when they get home. Instead of taking the |
| their weight and eating habits for them to be | | | | cookies away , which is sure to give you a "health |
| healthy. Parents have a significant influence over | | | | witch" title, Simply state "you can have cookies, |
| the situation. Consequently most of the effort will | | | | after you eat a piece of fresh fruit first". This will |
| have to come from the parents. Try these tips | | | | not only increase the amount of healthy foods |
| for getting kids to eat healthier. | | | | and drink they eat, but also fill them with whole |
| #1 Kids listen to what you do not what you say. | | | | foods which leaves less room for junk. |
| Parents must be an example to their children. | | | | #4) Be like your mother. |
| Children watch you even when you don't know | | | | Remember when you had to eat all your |
| they are. If you are sitting in front of the TV | | | | vegetables? Offer (healthier) desserts after dinner |
| with a bowl of ice cream and a bag of chips you | | | | to those that eat their vegetable. You may be in |
| are sending the wrong message to them. They | | | | a situation of one child having dessert and the |
| don't know you have PMS or you had a hard day | | | | other not, however that's great learning |
| or even you've been good on your diet for a | | | | experience for everyone, You get what you earn. |
| month and this isn't so bad. They are seeing | | | | Life lesson at the dinner table. And no it's not |
| lounge and eat. Nothing more or less. Make a salad | | | | unfair. Kids understand immediate reward |
| in the middle of the day and offer them some. | | | | punishment better than speeches. Keep the talking |
| Have a piece of fruit as you go out the door and | | | | to a minimum, state the rule then stick to it. |
| give them permission to go grab themselves a | | | | #5) Be firm and be consistent. |
| piece to take with them. This changes the | | | | Kids will push to test your limit. When you decide |
| message to snack and snack healthy. | | | | to implement a healthy habit stick to it. No matter |
| #2 Encourage healthier eating habits by cooking | | | | how much a kid cries, whines, or sneaks (and |
| healthier meals. You don't have to announce " we | | | | they will). Stay firm that this is the rule. Discuss |
| are all going to eat healthier so we can loose | | | | the rule with you're your spouse so you can have |
| weight". Cook a healthier recipe that you think | | | | a united front. If your children are use to free |
| your family will like. When they complain or ask | | | | range in the kitchen, and eating whatever they |
| "what's this", simply tell them you thought you'd | | | | want implementing all these tips at once will be to |
| try a new recipe. Don't be disappointed or | | | | drastic a change for them. Try implementing one |
| discouraged if they won't eat it, or don't like it. | | | | rule a week or even every two week. |
| Simply offer them a peanut butter and jelly | | | | Remember health eating is a process and slow |
| sandwich in its place. Most importantly do not go | | | | and steady wins the race. Not only will the new |
| back a cook again trying to give them what they | | | | "house rules" be a change for your children but it |
| want. When given a choice they will most likely | | | | will be a change for you as well, requiring more |
| choose their "regular" less healthy meal. | | | | monitoring and more planning (making healthy |
| #3 Implement house rules that require healthy | | | | snacks and ingredients always available). |