I read an interesting article in the The New York Times talking about the reality that when a child or children in a family are overweight (not the whole family, just specific individuals), the whole family still has to engage in change. I found this completely true and relevant to one’s overall success! Children, and most people, for that matter, learn from observation. We have to teach our children how to live a healthy lifestyle by doing so ourselves.
If one child in the family is obese, you cannot expect this kid to go along with dietary and exercise changes on their own. Many of us adults don’t have the willpower to sit and watch others indulge in our favorite foods while we are restricting ourselves. Most people typically abandon the diet either in the moment, or hopefully have learned to deal with those temporary temptations. A kid should be given the kind of home environment support he needs to stabilize his weight or lose weight. That means the whole family joins the experience. It is also important to note that even the tiny children, i.e. skinny kids, can still have health issues like diabetes, cholesterol problems, hypertension, related to food choices, even if they are not overweight. Let’s also agree that skinny kids can grow up to be overweight adults, especially if they don’t learn good nutritional and exercise guidelines.
An important thing to realize that often our perspectives can get skewed since many children are surrounded by other overweight kids, it may appear as if their largeness or major weight growth patterns are normal. Remember what are the “normal” children looking like today. Have you checked the children obesity rates lately!? Do not compare your child to another child because that is not an accurate way to measure their normalcy!
Why do kids need pantries filled with numerous processed food choices – why aren’t two or three choices enough? Why do we not sit down with our kids and talk about health and food – it won’t create eating disorders if the topics discussed are framed around health and energy and performance? Why don’t many of us realize the importance for family meals?
A child’s future is in the hands of their parents! It is so important to live that example of how we want our children to be. Healthy habits start in the home and at a young age. From there a child can develop their own habits and I am willing to bet that their habits are nothing like the average child’s habits today! Stock your pantry with healthy snack options, teach children how to cook healthy meals, teach them about nutrition and the importance of being active, sit down with your children and spend quality time with them while eating meals, and most of all be that example for them!
I can truly say I dedicate most of my success to the habits I formed as a youngster, for that I am thankful!
If one child in the family is obese, you cannot expect this kid to go along with dietary and exercise changes on their own. Many of us adults don’t have the willpower to sit and watch others indulge in our favorite foods while we are restricting ourselves. Most people typically abandon the diet either in the moment, or hopefully have learned to deal with those temporary temptations. A kid should be given the kind of home environment support he needs to stabilize his weight or lose weight. That means the whole family joins the experience. It is also important to note that even the tiny children, i.e. skinny kids, can still have health issues like diabetes, cholesterol problems, hypertension, related to food choices, even if they are not overweight. Let’s also agree that skinny kids can grow up to be overweight adults, especially if they don’t learn good nutritional and exercise guidelines.
An important thing to realize that often our perspectives can get skewed since many children are surrounded by other overweight kids, it may appear as if their largeness or major weight growth patterns are normal. Remember what are the “normal” children looking like today. Have you checked the children obesity rates lately!? Do not compare your child to another child because that is not an accurate way to measure their normalcy!
Why do kids need pantries filled with numerous processed food choices – why aren’t two or three choices enough? Why do we not sit down with our kids and talk about health and food – it won’t create eating disorders if the topics discussed are framed around health and energy and performance? Why don’t many of us realize the importance for family meals?
A child’s future is in the hands of their parents! It is so important to live that example of how we want our children to be. Healthy habits start in the home and at a young age. From there a child can develop their own habits and I am willing to bet that their habits are nothing like the average child’s habits today! Stock your pantry with healthy snack options, teach children how to cook healthy meals, teach them about nutrition and the importance of being active, sit down with your children and spend quality time with them while eating meals, and most of all be that example for them!
I can truly say I dedicate most of my success to the habits I formed as a youngster, for that I am thankful!
