Preventing childhood
obesity or helping your kids lose weight
has to be a family affair. As a parent or
a caregiver, you are directly responsible
for your child’s health. Obesity is
a disease, and you should do everything
in your power to keep your child safe.
Offer healthier
food options: Kids will eat what
you put on their plate and snack on whatever
they can find in the kitchen cabinet. You
can help your child by educating yourself
about healthy foods and incorporate it into
your daily menu and grocery shopping choices.
Learn how to cook meals that are low in
calories and fat, and high in nutrition.
Instead of Oreos, ice cream and colas, add
low-fat yoghurt, 100% juices, and fresh
fruit and vegetables to your grocery list.
Play:
That’s right, just play! Get out of
the house with your kids and revisit your
childhood. Remember Hop Scotch, Cops and
Robbers, and Simon Says? These timeless
classics are fun, simple to play, and a
perfect way to get your child to indulge
in physical activity. All kids want attention
from their parents, so the more time you
play with them, the more they will play.
Read More On Childhood Obesity
Cut down on time
in front of the TV: TV is a distraction.
Kids can get so engrossed in a TV program
that they will continue to eat long after
they are full, thus consuming more calories
than they can burn. Make it a rule to eat
meals at the dining table. Kids who watch
TV while eating or snacking are more prone
to developing unhealthy eating habits that
carry on into later life, thus putting them
at a risk for adult obesity.
Practice what
you preach: It’s not much
use to tell your children to put down the
cookies and go out and play when all you
do is channel-surf with a bag of chips.
Show your kids that you believe in what
you are trying to teach them. Children learn
through imitation. If you live a healthy
lifestyle, there is a high probability that
your child will, too.
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