• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Healthy Eating for Overweight Kids

December 10, 2010 by ds_51230 Leave a Comment

Being overweight puts your child at greater risk for diabetes, heart disease and asthma, along with the teasing that comes from his peers. If you make unhealthy choices for you and your family, your child is only naturally going to emulate what he sees and hears from you. It’s up to you to set the stage for a lifetime of healthy behavior.

Eating as a Family

It’s important that you don’t single your child out because she’s overweight. Don’t give her carrot sticks along with a sandwich if everyone else in the family is having chips. Remember that the focus is on eating healthy foods and that everyone can benefit from that, whether they are overweight or not. Make healthy eating a family affair.

A Well-Rounded Diet

Rather than strictly counting calories, it’s best to offer your child a diet that’s well-rounded. This should include lean sources of protein — chicken, tofu and beans, for example — along with fruits and vegetables, non-fat dairy products and whole grains. If your child rejects whole grain breads, pastas and rice because he isn’t used to the taste, try blending the whole grain with the processed grain. Limit his access to junk foods, offering healthy foods instead.

Making Kid Favorites Healthier

Reduce fat by baking instead of frying foods. You can get the same crispy taste by spraying a light layer of olive oil on the foods before placing them in the oven. When making your child’s favorite foods, like pizza and macaroni and cheese, use low-fat or non-fat ingredients to reduce overall calorie counts. You can also up the nutritional value of foods by adding vegetables to everything you cook.

Healthy Snacking

Snacking is an essential part of your child’s diet, but that doesn’t mean you have to let her eat a bag of chips or a candy bar. Encourage your child to eat fruits and vegetables when she’s snacking. Dips can make this more fun. Even healthy snacks like whole grain crackers can be a bad thing if she eats too many. Divide these types of snacks into portion-controlled mini-bags that she can just grab when she’s hungry.

Beverage Selection

High-calorie beverages can add unwanted pounds. Don’t allow your child to drink sodas — at the very least, reserve it for a special treat. Even fruit juices can be high in calorie if that’s all that he’s drinking. His primary beverage should be water, but you can also serve non-fat milk occasionally.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_51230

Maggie McCormick is a freelance writer that specializes in SEO content. She lived in Japan for three years teaching preschool to young children and currently lives in Honolulu with her family. Her work has appeared on eHow, and she received a BA in women's studies from Wellesley College.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

How to Save Your Kid from Drowning

The lifeguard moving quickly past Lindsey’s chair seemed to … [Read More...] about How to Save Your Kid from Drowning

Must Have

winter

Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

"It's beginning to look  a lot like Christmas..." The … [Read More...] about Pre-Holiday Must-Haves

Did you know?

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking?

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

How to Ask a Guy You Are Seeing Where You Stand

Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes

The Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes on Children

Early Signs of Pregnancy While on Birth Control

Early Signs of Pregnancy While on Birth Control

Signs of PMS or Pregnancy

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Fruit Salad Recipes With Fewer Than Five Ingredients

Married Man Hides His Feelings For You

How To Know If A Married Man Hides His Feelings For You

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.