Articles
COMMON DIETARY MISCONCEPTIONS IN PARENTS WITH OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN
1. “It’s just puppy fat and she will out grow it.”
Overweight children often become overweight adults.
Periods of rapid growth can result in an increase in the number of fat cells.
Fat cells can’t be removed except by liposuction which is not recommended.
It is easier to maintain a desirable weight then to lose it later.
Overweight children are developing type 2diabetes much earlier than in the past.
2. “My child is overweight - I don’t want them to be like me.”
The parent limits the food available and the child is not allowed cake at a family gathering, leading to low self esteem as they read this as- “You think I am fat”
Food restriction during childhood does not teach your child self control and how to recognise hunger signals.
Low self esteem leads to cupboard and or binge eating and general eating disorders.
Good family nutrition that applies to everyone will do much to improve a child’s weigh.
Many overweight adults with eating disorders started as slightly overweight children who were dieted by overzealous parent.
3. “My child won’t eat vegetables or fruit so I have to give them something different, even takeaway or just pasta and meat.”
A child should be given a healthy selection of food and offered the choice of eating or leaving the table.
Eating should be confined to set snacks and meals.
Special food should not be offered to the fussy eater.
Try and find interesting ways of incorporating vegetables into dishes.
-Stir-fries like at the Chinese restaurant
-Tacos/Nachos with extra salad
-Platters of salad that can be on the table to temp the child to try new vegies.
-Incorporate vegetables into soup, casseroles, stew and mince dishes.
4. “Kids need sugar.”
Children need carbohydrate for energy, not specifically sugar.
Sugar is found naturally in fruit, vegetables, milk, yoghurt, whole grains, breads and cereals. Children need breakfast containing carbohydrate and protein such as- wholegrain cereal with milk, toast with egg or baked beans or peanut butter.
Healthy carbohydrate snacks at morning recess and after school- fruit, yoghurt, dried fruit and nuts, fruit toast, savoury small homemade muffin or cheese and biscuits.
Low fat milk or water is best to drink.
5. “I have poor eating habits but I am going to make sure my child doesn’t follow me.”
Children copy their parents.
If breakfast isn’t important to you, it won’t be for your child
If you don’t believe in proper meals for yourself, your children will think it isn’t important.
If you don’t eat vegetables, your children probably won’t either.
If you eat cake and chocolate and watch TV after school, so will your children.
6. “Children run around at school so they don’t need dedicated exercise and it isn’t safe for them to walk to school.”
Children are inactive at school for long periods sitting in class.
When parents were young, they probably walked to school, and biked all over their area. Children watch too much TV and play too long on the computer.
Regular sport will help with physical skills and will make a child more capable and likely to pursue sports as they get older.
Children can walk, scoot or ride with a parent to school.
Children can learn to use manned cross walks.
Parents can be supportive of family nutrition and exercise. Sometimes visiting a dietitian can help pinpoint problems and make change.
Added to site on : Tuesday, 6 April 2010