Many of us, including myself, are parents. And needless to say, the problem with childhood obesity, especially here in the U.S. is more than apparent. In fact, childhood obesity has become an epidemic disease “eating away” at our children’s lives. Now this is a topic that hits me close to home since I am a concerned parent myself. I do my best to be an example to my child and I wanted to take the opportunity to encourage all of you to do the same for your children.

Children, from a young age, learn by observing. If they grow up seeing their parents leading healthy, active lifestyles, exercising and eating the right foods, they are much more likely

Help reverse the trend of childhood obesity by teaching kids to exercise and eat the right foods.

to do the same. On the  , if parents tend to be sedentary and rely on fast foods, and unhealthy cooking habits, their kids are probably going to end up following in their footsteps since that is all they know. It is our jobs, as mothers and fathers of tomorrow’s generation to help reverse the trend of Type 2 Diabetes, premature aging, cardiovascular disease, stress-induced health problems, heart attacks, and perhaps even cancer (which researchers say may also be triggered by prolonged unhealthy eating habits).

How do we do this? Well, the answer is simple, although making changes to our current way of parenting may be difficult. Below are some guidelines for parents to try implementing at home.

1. Make exercise part of your daily life. Everyone, no matter how busy, can take at least 30 minutes out of the day to get some physical activity in. Make it a family affair by going to the park with your kids, for a family bike ride or jog, or by heading to the beach or pool for some fun in the sun.

2. Make home cooked meals. Now this is a big one. If you usually order take out or fast food you may be leading your kids (and yourself) down a very dangerous road. Learn some low-fat cooking techniques (like poaching, broiling, or grilling) and be sure to serve up controlled portions of balanced meals that include lean protein, fiber, complex carbs and low amounts of fat. Make dinner time sacred. Turn off the television and have the family sit down for the meal. Encourage family discussions which will help you bond and allows you to savor your food and eat at a controlled pace.

3. Teach your kids to drink LOTS of water. Most of us do not consume enough water throughout the day. this can lead to build upo of toxins in our bodies, dehydration, fatigue, and several other conditions that can be dangerous to our health.

4. ELIMINATE junk food from your house. If you know your kids dive into a bag of chips the minute they get home from school-why buy them? They are eating themselves into an early grave to say the least. Instead, buy fresh fruits and veggies, and have plenty healthy snacks in the fridge for your kids.

5. Brown bag your lunch and your kids’ lunches. Not only will you save money, but you will also be sure you and your family are eating right.

6. Teach your kids about the importance of MODERATION. Teach kids that an occasional, small treat every once in a while is o.k., so long as they exercise and eat the right foods on a regular basis. The problem comes when “once in a while” turns into “everyday” treats.

If you do these things already, congratulations! And if not, don’t beat yourself up about it! It’s never too late to be better than you were before. By becoming healthier individuals ourselves, we can in turn be better role models for our children.

Take Charge!

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