|
|
|
8 Steps to Organized Meal Planning
1. Keep an ongoing grocery list. Most people can start one about 5 minutes after returning from the grocery store. Post it so everyone in the family can use it. 2. Take a sheet of paper and make three columns. First, list seven to 21 of your...
“An Ultimately Feminine Experience”
Having my period is a feminine experience. I don't think of menstruation as a punishment, a sentence, a burden or something I want to be rid of. It is the natural flow of female hormones. Those hormones protect my bones, my heart, my sex...
Keep Family Reunions Under One Roof
January 19, 2005, Norfolk, VA –As more and more families are keeping in touch via the Internet, today more than ever, it’s easier to arrange family reunions. According to a recent statistic from the Travel Industry Association of America, 27% of...
Stans’ Legacy - My Fathers Impact on his 13 Children
I will always have a clear picture of his face etched in my mind. As clear as a bright spring day in Geelong, the city in south eastern Australia where may father (Stan) and mother (Elsie) raised myself and my twelve brothers and sisters. Our...
You Don't Have To Be A Rocket Scientist To Pass An IQ Quiz
Q. Can you really tell anything about someone's intelligence by having them take an IQ quiz? A. The answer to this question requires a bit of background information, so let me put my professor hat on and tell you a story. An IQ quiz measures a...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Childhood Obesity - 6 Steps to Raising Healthy Kids
Childhood obesity is on the rise and has become an important topic amongst parents, politicians and many others.
Our lifestyles have drastically changed. We don’t walk as much as we used to. We eat pre-packaged or fast foods instead of home cooked meals. And what exercise can compete with video games?
These days kids would rather spend time on the computer than go outside and kick a ball around or ride their bikes. And with all the junk food advertisements aimed at children by the media, us parents definitely have our jobs cut out for us.
Times have definitely changed but that doesn’t mean we have to completely give up. It’s just a matter of putting some simple measures into place.
Here are some easy tips to ensure your kids develop a life-long healthy lifestyle.
1. Limit your kids television, computer and video games time. This may not be easy at first, but be persistent. Suggest an activity they can do, or better yet go outside with them and join in. Children learn through example, so if you’re all set to go for a bike ride they may just want to join you.
2. Get your kids involved in the family food shopping. Make a list of healthy foods everyone agrees on and point out the health benefits to your kids. You’ll be surprised at how open to eating healthy your kids can be. You don’t have to drastically cut out the cakes and cookies altogether, but instead let each child choose one item they can enjoy as a special treat. This teaches kids to learn about moderation and that , yes, they can have cookies or chocolates as treats not as regular food staples.
3. Don’t super size your kids. Be careful
to serve kid appropriate food portions. Remember, if they’re not fully satisfied they can simply go back for seconds. Also, teach them to eat slowly and take breaks between mouthfuls to allow the brain to register when it’s full.
4. Try to avoid branding any foods as “bad for you”. Instead focus on teaching your kids everything can be enjoyed in moderation. This takes the pressure off them and gets rid of the diet mentality which can set them up for a life of yo-yo dieting.
5. Be more active! Simply stated, kids need more activity in their lives. The same goes for all of us, if we eat more calories than we’re using up we will gain weight. It’s as simple as that. So get out there and make it fun. Try not to use the word “exercise”. You want this to be a lifestyle habit not something that has to be done.
6. Be a positive role model. Rather than focusing on changes for your child only, change as a family. Have a family meeting and talk about healthy eating and good nutrition. Explain all the benefits of an active lifestyle and let your kids suggest some simple activities you can do together. Start slowly and build up. If you set a good example your kids will eventually follow. It may not be easy at first, but persist. The benefits will far outweigh the tantrums and tears you may need to put up when you first change your lifestyle…. Your kids will thank you for it in the long run.
About the Author
Mila Sidman is a mom of three and the creator of www.easy-kid-recipes.com. A leading website providing simple, kid-friendly recipes, nutritional information, meal planning tips, fun kid cooking projects and much more.
|
|
|
|
|
|