| What your child learns about food now will affect him | | | | what age your child is, he or she is likely to resent a |
| or her for a lifetime. If you are worried that your child is | | | | "do as I say, not as I do: attitude, especially at the |
| obese, or just want to instill good nutritional values, you | | | | dinner table. If the rest of the family is enjoying a meal |
| must strike a delicate balance. On one hand, you would | | | | of steak and potatoes, it will not work to have Junior |
| never want your child to be ashamed of his or her | | | | eating boiled asparagus and tofu. For one thing, he will |
| appearance. Adults that were teased and lectured | | | | certainly feel as though he is being punished. He will |
| about their weight as children report later that the | | | | also come to associate healthy foods with deprivation |
| shame stayed with them into their adult lives. On the | | | | and as something forbidden and, therefore, desired |
| other hand, making sure your child eats well and stays | | | | above all else. |
| active is one of the most important roles you have as | | | | A successful diets for children need to be a part of |
| a parent. | | | | the entire family's lifestyle. Explore what healthy dishes |
| When thinking about a child's diet, perhaps the best | | | | your child enjoys and make it for the whole family. If |
| thing you can do is to think about what dieting means | | | | your child is a picky eater, it might be tough to find the |
| to you. The word "diet" has become so loaded in | | | | right foods, but your patience will be rewarded |
| modern times that the very word seems to imply | | | | eventually. You may also want to take a look around |
| punishment, restrictions and yearning for more food. | | | | the kitchen. How do you stock your cupboards? Are |
| Instead, think of a diet in its original sense: what we eat | | | | there a lot of tempting sweets in the pantry and sodas |
| and drink. A child's diet should be full of delicious foods | | | | in the refrigerator? Get rid of them, or keep just a few |
| that provide all the nutrition he or she needs to grow | | | | on hand for dessert. Instead, make sure there are |
| up big and strong. The food your child eats becomes | | | | many fruits and vegetables within easy reach to your |
| energy he or she needs to play sports and | | | | child. |
| concentrate on school. As a parent, it is your job to | | | | If your child likes to snack, you might consider having a |
| provide the right foods and to encourage your child to | | | | designated snack drawer. At the beginning of the |
| eat them. It should not be about calorie counting when | | | | week, load it up with healthy treats like raisins and |
| it comes to a child's dieting. That is sure to end in tears | | | | granola bars. Let him or her know that those snacks |
| and frustration. | | | | can be eaten at anytime, but the snacks must last to |
| Because children soak up whatever behaviors they | | | | the end of the week. Think of it as an allowance, only |
| see in the adults around them, the example set by | | | | with food. Like an allowance, it both rewards the child |
| your own eating habits should be examined before | | | | and gives him or her the responsibility to make |
| you start controlling what your child eats. No matter | | | | personal decisions when it comes to food. |