Portion Distortion Affects Kids, Too
We all know how out-of-control portions are for entrees in restaurants. But even dishes for the under 10 crowd offer more food than they used to. Fast food restaurants offer "upsized" kids meals like "Big Kids" meals.It's easier to keep tabs on portions at home. Remember the old standards of portion size: a deck of playing cards is a serving of meat? Serve a variety of healthful foods in smaller portions rather than larger portions of filling foods (like mac and cheese).
Of course, when you make portions smaller, second helpings will be on-demand. Seconds can be totally acceptable when healthful foods are chosen. Help your child learn which foods are the best choice.
Zap -- Good Nutrition Goes Up in Smoke!
Another key problem with children's diets is the reliance on pre-prepared, heavily processed foods. It is all-too convenient to get by with frozen, microwaveable meals which are often very high in fat, calories and sodium.It may be easy and less time-consuming to zap dinner, but are you really doing yourself -- or your kids -- any favors?
Temptation at Every Turn
Junk food is marketed to children on television commercials just as regularly as toys.Many children have never known a time when candy and soda pop vending machines weren't on-site. Cafeterias have given way to fast food chains in some schools.
Temptation to indulge in unhealthy food is literally everywhere for today's child. Help your child learn that ]these foods are treats]; they're not forbidden, but they're not something to eat daily.
The Low-Down on Liquid Calories
Soft drink consumption in and of itself has been shown to have a significant impact on childhood obesity. Harvard researchers conducted a long-term study focusing on soda consumption and its impact on children's body weight.Researchers found that 57 percent of the children studied increased their daily intake of sugar-sweetened soft drinks; the results showed that "the odds of becoming obese increased 1.6 times for each additional can or glass of sugar-sweetened soft drink consumed above the daily average." 4
Continued: What are the Risks? >>
