By Guest Author Victoria Hnat
As most of us already know, childhood obesity has been a recurring topic over the past year. Unfortunately, people are solely blaming the parents and as a result taking their children away. While I do believe that parents play an important role in their children’s nutrition, we have to keep in mind that there are other outside factors; school lunches, genetics, food manufacturing companies, etc. I mean do you know how unhealthy school lunches actually are for your child? They are loaded with sodium, saturated fat, and a lot of unhealthy things. If your child wanted pizza or a hot dog every day for lunch would you let them eat that? Most schools do because they don’t monitor what your child eats. I knew a kid who bought cereal every day for lunch for an entire year because the cafeteria food was so bad. Unfortunately, with both parents working it is hard to make lunches in the morning and with the fast paced life styles that we live today; I completely understand our unhealthy eating habits. I have fallen prey of the drive through many times myself.
But I think it is wrong to take a child away if they are in a loving family environment because of their weight. I can’t imagine the psychological implements of what it must do to the child. We can’t outcast because of people weights. It creates an entire new set of problems.
As Gandhi once said “We have to be the change we wish to see in the world”, we have to help kids eat better and be positive towards them, not negative.
Here are some tips:
1. Don’t let your child feel bad about themselves. Children are vulnerable. Help them stay positive.
2. Don’t publicly embarrass your child. Remember that there is a time a place for everything. Talk to them later or pull them aside.
3. Be a role model to them. Eat healthy and stay active together. After all, your child looks up to you.
4. Don’t single out your child to have smaller portions. Eat the same portion size as a family. You will all be healthier and your kid won’t feel so bad.
5. If you need medical attention, don’t be afraid to get it. After all, everyone can use help sometimes.
So for your next family dinner, here is a healthy recipe for an active/on the go lifestyle.
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/no_bake_macaroni_cheese.html
By Guest Author Victoria Hnat
