Being overweight might be an awkward phase your child is experiencing, or it could be a precursor of things to come. When a child is overweight, he may feel uncomfortable or inadequate and continue to feed those negative feelings with more food. As the child ages his feelings may turn to despair and he may settle for a life without physical activity, which will not be healthy. As a parent, you can change the course of this unhealthy cycle. It's important not to comfort the child with food when he is sad or upset. Affection, kind words and listening may be all the child needs, rather than an ice cream cone or a treat. Focus on the child's behavior, and call out the behavior not the child. Eating candy before dinner may be a bad idea for an overweight child, but that does not mean the child is bad. Thwart the behavior without hurting the child's feelings if you want to help the overweight child reach a healthy weight.
Getting your kids to eat healthy is one of the biggest challenges parents face. In today's busy world, it's tempting to drive by a window and pick up a greasy meal in a box (with a free toy!), but that's not a great way to teach your child about eating healthy. According to the Mayo Clinic, a 4- to 8-year-old will need to consume 1,200 to 2,000 calories a day (depending on age and sex), and childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Give your kids a head start to a healthy lifestyle by teaching them to choose the right foods.
It is a fact that kids spend way too much time exercising their fingers with a TV remote, cell phone, computer or video games and too little of it engaging in wholesome physical activity. But how do you peel your kids and teenagers away from these addictive, enticing and often mind-numbing activities and encourage them to stay healthy and physically active instead? It's possible and it may not be all that difficult to do. Here are some ideas to get your kids more exercise.
Kids can be picky, but feeding kids a healthy diet is critical to start them on the road to lifelong good eating habits. Junk foods, fast food and sugary drinks all lead to health risks and obesity, but many kids simply don't want to eat what they should. What constitutes healthy diets for kids and where can you improve your child's diet? Learn how to make simple changes that can make a big difference without causing battles at the dinner table.
Celeb moms and dads seem to swoon over all things organic nowadays, especially food. From vegan and macrobiotic diets, to fad foods like pomegranates and acai juice, it seems like Hollywood always finds new, hip ways to make food seem less fun and more functional. Angelina Jolie is known ...
