Overweight and obesity problems are affecting our kids at alarming rates. As a parent, you can have a dramatic impact both with your own healthy example, as well as with these helpful tips.
1. Don’t force kids to clean their plates. It can teach kids to eat when they’re not hungry.
2. Don’t use dessert to bribe kids into eating nutritious foods; it can backfire and kids will learn to prefer that food given as a reward.
3. Do put several items on the plate and get kids to try a bite of each.
4. Do limit the amount of treats and junk food in your house, including soda and fruit juice. The alternative of restricting access to a pantry full of fatty snacks and sweet drinks makes forbidden foods seem more desirable.
5. Do remove the television from children’s rooms.
6. Do build exercise into your family’s daily lives.
