Articles
Today's Fussy Eater-Tomorrow's Overweight Teen?
It seems that everyone is talking about Australia's overweight children. Where did this epidemic come from and what can parents do about it?
Some experts think that a lack of physical activity is to blame, while others blame the food environment. The energy dense treat foods of the last generation - potato chips, chocolate bars and soft drinks - are an everyday snack these days. But many children are also very much less active than they used to be - why is this?
Research links hours of TV watching with overweight in children, and also shows that watching TV slows the metabolic rate to a level very close to sleep. Even playing with LEGO or doing a puzzle burns up more calories - and with TV free activities you can also avoid those snack food ads!
When I was a kid we roamed the suburb in a large mixed ages gang, complete with tennis rackets and dogs. I remember playing for hours making cubbies on the nearby bush blocks. I don't think our parents knew exactly where we were, but they knew we were safe.
Today families are smaller, many parents are at work and kids are in after-school care. There is a heightened awareness of dangers to unsupervised children. Many parents prefer to keep their kids safely at home - perhaps in front of TV or a computer game. Council's are removing the most exciting play equipment from parks fearing litigation. Children may be avoiding physical injuries, but sadly they are more and more at risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
If exercise doesn't just happen in your family, make it a priority - Plan it into the day, and especially the weekend. Walk, ride, skip, jump and play. Its good for everyone. Set reasonable limits on TV watching and stick to them. There is also a lot you can do to help your children grow up into good eaters - a wonderful health gift for life. Many overweight teens and young adults are also fussy eaters, with only a tiny range of fruits and vegetables that they have learned to like. A healthy and protective diet is very difficult for them.
Often parents lack confidence when it comes to parenting around food. They may be reacting against the strictness of their own upbringing, or just want to make their children happy and avoid fights.
The human body hasn't had time to evolve to suit modern lifestyles. We are still well adapted to an active life where many hours a day were needed for gathering or growing our food. Now, as then, human children need to be taught what is safe and healthy to eat. Take the lead, set the menu, and keep treat foods in their place. Your child doesn't know best when it comes to food choices, you do. Getting your child to eat healthy foods is not really hard when you know how.
Serve a variety of healthy foods, some favourites, some not yet liked. Provide support, but not pressure. Never try to make your child eat - it doesn't work and the food in question only becomes more strongly disliked.
The most supportive thing you can do is eat with your child - and if you are not a good vege eater - pretend. Don't underrate your importance as a role model. It seems that for fruits and veges, Dads are even more important than Mums.
Hungry children will eat and most are born knowing how much they need. Just remember that they don't eat the same amount every day. Their appetite reflects the growth spurts which come and go. Resist the urge to tell them they need to eat more or less. Encourage them to tune in to their bodily signals of hunger and fullness instead. If they don't fill up on sweet drinks and snack foods between meals, they will be at their best at meal times.
A good golden rule for parenting around food is American Dietitian Ellyn Satter's Division of Responsibility. In essence this means the parent taking responsibility for the what, when and where of meals and snacks. The child has responsibility for how much, if any, and what they eat out of what is offered.
Try it, it works!
Further reading by Ellyn Satter -1. How to get your kid to eat, but not too much. 2. Feeding with love and good sense.
Added to site on : Friday, 27 August 2004