| Research has shown that overweight kids usually turn | | | | - Fruit and vegetables |
| into overweight adults. Not only that, it has also been | | | | - Eggs |
| shown that people who were overweight in childhood | | | | - Wholemeal bread |
| are far more likely to suffer from life-threatening | | | | - Unsweetened cereals |
| conditions like cardiac disease and cancer. Additionally, | | | | - Fish and lean meat |
| some teenagers are developing type 2 diabetes, | | | | - Cheese |
| sometimes called late onset diabetes as it affects | | | | Exercise |
| people in middle age. | | | | Although diet plays a large part in childhood obesity, |
| The damage of childhood obesity can cause emotional | | | | lack of exercise can also be important. Here are some |
| and psychological problems too. Obesity makes | | | | tips for getting your kids to take more exercise. |
| children a target for all kinds of bullying at school, both | | | | - Whenever possible, your children should walk to and |
| physical and psychological. They tend to do less well | | | | from school rather than ride in the car. |
| at sports, may have fewer friends than thinner children | | | | - Get a dog and make it your children's responsibility to |
| and so become isolated and solitary. | | | | walk it if they are old enough. If they are too young, |
| Because of all this, it is obvious that allowing your | | | | make it a regular part of the routine for you and the |
| children to put on excess weight is the unkindest thing | | | | kids to walk the dog (the exercise will do you good |
| you can do either in the short or long term but how do | | | | too!). |
| you avoid it? | | | | - If you don't want or can't have a dog, make regular |
| - Start young: as soon as your children start to be | | | | visits to a local park where your children can play ball, |
| weaned, don't train them to prefer sweet foods. Never | | | | use slides and swings or just run around and have fun. |
| give them candy or desserts as a treat or reward. | | | | - Allow time at weekends for the whole family to |
| - Don't give babies that are being weaned the sweet | | | | spend time on enjoyable physical activity like going |
| commercial desserts, mash up a banana instead or | | | | swimming, walking, cycling, etc. |
| stew an apple without sweetening it too much. | | | | - At Christmas and birthdays, don't just give your kids |
| - Don't assume that because you like sweetened | | | | computer games, give them a football, cricket, baseball |
| drinks like coffee or tea that you must put sugar in | | | | bat, or other sporting equipment, anything that gives |
| your children's drinks too. It is far better to get them | | | | them an incentive to get out and play. |
| accustomed to drinking them unsweetened. | | | | - Encourage your children to join a sports club or |
| - Get your children in the habit of eating breakfast. It is | | | | team--football, baseball, cricket, judo, karate, athletics, it |
| the one meal of the day we should all eat. A good | | | | doesn't matter as long as it demands physical activity. |
| breakfast would be something like cereal (no added | | | | - You might also want to think about taking the whole |
| sugar) and milk with some fresh fruit chopped up and | | | | family on activity vacations. Instead of lying on a |
| mixed in or eaten separately. Eat it with a glass of real | | | | beach, why not take a vacation backpacking, horse |
| orange juice (unsweetened) and a milky drink. | | | | riding or yachting? |
| - Children should avoid fast foods like burgers, fries | | | | The most important thing is to build a foundation, as |
| and fried chicken. Freshly cooked food with portions of | | | | young as possible, of an appreciation for good |
| fruit and vegetables are much better. Do not allow | | | | nutritious food and a love of physical activity. Your |
| your children to develop the fast food habit--it is much | | | | children won't suffer if they aren't addicted to sweet |
| easier than trying to break the habit later. | | | | food or hamburgers and prefer a piece of fruit to a |
| Good Food for Kids | | | | piece of candy. |
| - Milk | | | | |