Fifty years ago, childhood obesity was almost unknown, except in rare cases of medical conditions, such as a thyroid imbalance. Today, childhood obesity is epidemic. So what's the cause? Kids who are overweight usually have a few things in common: a diet high in sugar, refined and processed foods and an almost total lack of exercise.
While modern life has brought many conveniences and a panoply of entertainment venues, this has become a two-edged sword.
Convenience foods, which are always highly refined and processed, also contain lots of sugar and salt. While a boxed dinner may save you time preparing a child's evening meal, it's setting that child up for becoming overweight and perhaps obese, as time goes on.
With kids spending more and more time at the computer, chatting, playing video games and, alternatively, television time, regular exercise is fast becoming a thing of the past. We used to think of a 'couch potato' as someone older, who, after a long day at work, plopped down on the couch to kick back and have a couple of beers. Now, kids are falling into this sedentary pattern, without the beers, of course they kick back with a soda and a bag of chips. This lifestyle is going to put on the pounds. A steady diet of this routine results in a slow metabolism, and can lead to a variety of health problems, including childhood obesity.
So what's the solution? Get your kids on the right track as early as possible. Discourage excessive consumption of soda. Encourage healthy drinks, such as fruit juices and yes, water. Keep fresh lemons or limes on hand and garnish that ice-cold water with a slice of these fruits.
Instead of a commercial kid's 'snack pack' or cookies, keep granola bars and fresh fruit available for those hungry moments between meals. At meal time, serve fresh produce and lean meats. Lunch desserts? Fresh fruit! A couple of sticks of low-fat mozzarella cheese sticks and a hoagie roll stuffed with lean deli meats, lettuce, sliced tomatoes or other crunchy veggies is a filling, nutritious and non-fattening meal.
Our eating habits are formed early and tend to stay with us for a lifetime. If your children are not eating healthy diets now, it's time for a slow and gradual acclimation to healthy foods. Childhood obesity is so prevalent, yet so easily avoided. Kids who are overweight or obese bear the brunt of jokes and teasing from slimmer children, which can give rise to a vicious cycle of eating those 'comfort foods' that keep them overweight. Childhood obesity can also lead to psychological problems that plague them throughout their lives.
As a parent, you're in the driver's seat when it comes to providing a proper diet for your kids. Cultivate good eating habits in your kids and they will thank you!
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