by Trisha

Created on: January 13, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

Tips for making healthy food choices really is not that simple, especially when it comes to children.

I was in a restaurant, when I saw a a 40 something Mom and her overweight Son take the table next to me. I thought to myself, "If that Mom could just teach her son to make healthy food choices the boy would not be so fat." Perhaps in defense of the Mother (or perhaps in my own defense, after all that hefty cheeseburger and fries looked so good compared to the turkey salad I was having). I thought to myself, "It's not that simple."

Obesity is a four legged beast comprised of nutritional , genetic, emotional, and lifestyle factors. You can't change a child's genetic makeup, but you can provide healthy food choices, protect our child's emotional environment, and promote healthy lifestyle options.

Let's deal with the environment. Your home. Get that junk food out of there. If it's not there they won't eat it. Clean out the fridge and the cabinet's and replace the cookies, candy, sugar coated cereal with fruits, raw veggies and low fat or at least 2% milk. It's a family affair though. Don't single out Jr., while you have access to all the goodies, because there may be feelings of resentment later.

Next we deal with the emotions. To protect those emotions, love and accept your children REGARDLESS of their weight or behavior. Shaming, teasing, or ridiculing, may cause more harm than good. Those negative emotions may cause them to hate their bodies and turn to food for comfort and that should be the last thing that you want.

Next, the lifestyle change of exercising. The most important thing here to remember is that little children are not little versions of adults. Little children have limited attention spans and different interest than adults. They may have no interest in jazzercise , lifting weights, or jogging. So make their play time an opportunity to have fun and promote a little physical activity as well.

Next, let's deal with the parents. You as a parent need to clean up your act. The most important gift you can give your children is the gift of good example. If you chow down on high fat junk food, go into a feeding frenzy every time your feelings get hurt, and the only exercise you get is searching for the remote control, and bending your elbow to put something in our mouth, then you can almost expect the same of your children.

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