| Healthy eating for children and preventing obesity in | | | | snacks and let them help make them. A good book of |
| children has become a high priority for parents seeking | | | | healthy, tasty recipes is Real Food for Healthy Kids. |
| to help their children have stronger, healthier lives. | | | | - Set the example. Do not expect your children to |
| There are few stay at home moms (or dads) any | | | | change if you are not changing. |
| more. By the time parents get home from work, the | | | | - Soda in any form is bad for you. It is either loaded |
| last thing they want to do is cook a meal from scratch. | | | | with sugar or sweetened with chemically altered |
| Frozen and prepackaged foods have become the | | | | substances. Slowly start replacing it with filtered water. |
| norm for many families. Kids love the taste and it is so | | | | - Try to eliminate sugar as much as possible. Use fruit |
| easy to prepare. The trouble is these types of foods | | | | to replace the sweet cravings. |
| are loaded with chemicals. The chemicals are what | | | | - Allow less TV and computer. It really affects their |
| give it such great flavor. But, chemicals are not food | | | | growing brain in a negative way when used in excess. |
| and they are not good for you. These types of food | | | | - They should be playing/exercising outside in the fresh |
| encourage unhealthy lives and weight gain. It is | | | | air and sunshine. You need to be outside also. Get |
| important to cook from scratch. | | | | some form of exercise with them. It can be a great |
| Below I list several things that you can do to build | | | | stress reliever. |
| healthier, slimmer lives for you and your children. | | | | - Breads and pastas should be kept to a minimum. |
| - Take things a step at a time. Do not change | | | | That can really pack the weight on for many. Quinoa |
| everything overnight. It will be too overwhelming for | | | | and millet, cooked like rice can provide a tasty grain |
| your child and you. | | | | with your meal. In the last several generations, we |
| - Whenever cooking from scratch, double or triple the | | | | have seen a decline in quality foods, home cooked |
| servings. Freeze the extra for future meals. It does not | | | | meals, getting enough fresh air and sunshine. It is time |
| take that much extra time to double/triple it and it | | | | to take back control of our lives. Our children and their |
| saves a ton of time later. When you know you have | | | | subsequent generations depend on it. |
| something in the freezer already prepared that you | | | | While the information above is a great start, there are |
| can heat or cook, it helps avoid the temptation to stop | | | | many more things you can do to help your children. I |
| by a fast food chain. | | | | will write more in future articles. |
| - Get your children involved in choosing meals and | | | | |