| p>Nothing strikes at the heart of American voters | | | | families with hectic schedules consistently sitting down |
| more effectively than a threat to our children. Several | | | | to a family meal can be quite challenging. Mornings can |
| years ago we had an education crisis - which gave us | | | | be stressful and the idea of everyone sitting down |
| the "No Child Left Behind" debacle. Now President | | | | together to share breakfast may seem preposterous. |
| Obama is "taking on" childhood obesity, and I fear more | | | | At night parents are tired and it is easy to just let the |
| ill-advised legislation. Several weeks ago, a special | | | | kids eat in front of the television. However, family |
| government task force released new guidelines and | | | | meals are important for emotional health and |
| recommendations to combat childhood obesity. These | | | | well-being. A calm and nurturing family meal provides |
| guidelines included some truly horrible ideas, including | | | | support and connection between family members. I |
| strict diets for children who fall into a particular weight | | | | strongly recommend that families eliminate distractions, |
| category. From my perspective politicizing an issue | | | | such as television, video games, reading material or |
| does very little to change it - and often makes the | | | | toys at the table. Set a positive tone by expressing |
| situation worse. Change only occurs when Americans | | | | gratitude or saying grace before the meal and engage |
| personalize the issue. We need to stop viewing this as | | | | in positive conversation. |
| a childhood obesity crisis and start thinking of it as a | | | | Dieting and Childhood Obesity: When children struggle |
| FAMILY obesity crisis. This should not be important | | | | with weight the last thing that you want to do is put |
| only for overweight families; this must be a wake up | | | | them on a diet. Do not emphasize the "problem" - |
| call for all families. We all need to take this opportunity | | | | compassionately acknowledge it, but don't focus on it. |
| to look at our choices and behavior to determine what | | | | The entire family must modify their behavior and |
| is healthy and what is unhealthy. | | | | change their eating patterns. Even if some members |
| I was obese. I dieted for years - losing weight and | | | | of the family are thin, it is important to make |
| gaining it back. My patterns of behavior around food, | | | | adjustments so that everyone is eating healthier. |
| which were established in my childhood, were habitual. | | | | Introduce the adjustments incrementally and make the |
| Interrupting the patterns that had been ingrained and | | | | focus on "health" - never make it about "sacrificing to |
| reinforced for decades was challenging, but I knew | | | | help the overweight child". |
| that I did not want my kids to struggle with childhood | | | | Moderation and Balance: Healthy eating must include |
| obesity as a result of my unhealthy habits. Based on | | | | sweets and treats. You never want kids to feel as if |
| my personal experience, coupled with my professional | | | | they are being deprived. When children feel deprived |
| work coaching obese adults through my weight | | | | they often binge whenever unhealthy food is available. |
| release program, I have outlined five factors for | | | | Unhealthy foods in moderation are very appropriate. In |
| parents to consider that effect eating patterns. I | | | | my family we even let our kids overindulge once in |
| believe that addressing these five factors can help | | | | awhile. For example, on Halloween we let the kids eat |
| establish healthy eating habits for life and prevent | | | | as much candy as they want - then allow them to pick |
| childhood obesity. | | | | one piece after dinner until the candy is gone. Allowing |
| Consistency and Childhood Obesity: Kids thrive on | | | | occasional overeating can be beneficial because it |
| routines. Parents who consistently provide scheduled | | | | teaches self-regulation, which is very important for |
| meals and snacks are helping to support long term | | | | healthy long term eating habits. |
| healthy eating habits. Childhood obesity can be a result | | | | Focusing on Fun: With my adult clients, I work to help |
| of inconsistent meal times which often prompt children | | | | them choose physical activity that it is fun, enjoyable, |
| to overeat unconsciously. When kids are not sure | | | | and fulfilling. These guidelines should apply to physical |
| when their next meal will come they often tend to | | | | activity for families, as well. Be wary of only playing |
| "gorge" or "graze". Both gorging and grazing are very | | | | competitive games, which can end up being "no fun". A |
| unhealthy patterns where children eat a lot of food at | | | | significant number of my overweight adult clients |
| one time or are constantly eating over an extended | | | | associate physical activity with competitive sports - |
| period of time. These patterns don't always show up | | | | which unconsciously triggers fear of failure or |
| as weight gain in active children, but will usually cause | | | | incompetence. While competitive sports offer |
| weight problems in adulthood. It is critical that parents | | | | important lessons in teamwork, commitment, etc., |
| are consistent in the types of foods they provide and | | | | children must also experience regular non-competitive |
| the times at which meals and snacks are served. | | | | physical activity. I strongly advocate active family time |
| Family Meals and Childhood Obesity: For working | | | | - such as bike riding, hiking, swimming, flying kites, etc. |