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ShareTips to avoid childhood obesity
Published: September 23, 2008 3:00 PMUpdated: October 06, 2008 1:53 PM
The most prevalent health problem facing children today is obesity.
If childhood obesity continues to increase, it could cut two to five years from the average lifespan. That could cause our current generation of children to become the first to live shorter lives than their parents.
According to Mary Ellen Renna, M.D., pediatrician and author of Next Generation Fitness, it’s never too late to start developing healthy childhood habits that will last a lifetime:
• Plan your family’s meals. By planning meals, you can keep track of what your family is eating and reduce the craving for eating in between meals.
• Never skip a meal. Skipping meals will cause the body’s metabolic rate to slow down, miss important nutrients in the day, and most likely cause your child to overcompensate by eating empty calories.
• Fulfil the fruit, vegetable, protein, grain, dairy and nut requirement each day. This will keep your child’s hunger satisfied, and she will be less likely to look for empty calorie junk foods.
• Avoid deep-fried foods. Serve foods that have been sautéed, baked, broiled, roasted, boiled, or grilled.
• No preserved meats. Most preserved meats contain nitrites which are converted into a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) in the body. This includes foods that are typically pink in colour like bologna, salami, pepperoni, hotdogs, corned beef, and pastrami.
• No sodas, juice drinks or sweetened drinks. Have your children drink mostly water, but include skim or low-fat milk, fresh fruit and fresh vegetable juices.
• Involve the entire family. Parents should be mentors to their children and set a healthy lifestyle.
— Metro Creative
