Dr. Christine Wood, M.D, a practicing pediatrician in Encinitas, California, is the author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great & Love It!, offers some sound advice about developing healthy eating lifestyles for your family.
Here's what Dr. Wood has to say. Today almost one out of three children in the United States is either overweight or borderline overweight and is likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, Dr. Wood warns that these obese children may not live longer than their parents ? a depressing thought!
What's causing this trend? Simply stated, Dr. Wood suggested too many calories and too little activity, although it is more complex than that. The mainstream media is marketing fast food and sedentary activities to our children. Consequently, here are some of their unhealthy options:
* Easy access to fast food for stressed out parents.
* Schools offer sodas and candies in their vending machines.
* Children are increasingly exposed to inexpensive, processed food choices.
* Since the introduction of cable TV and remote controls, Game Boy, home personal computers, among other things, more sedentary options are available than ever before.
* Food companies are taking advantage of the time children spend in front by marketing directly to them.
The bottomline, obviously, is that our children are not getting the nutrition and exercise they need. So, what are parents to do? Dr. Wood offers the following suggestions:
* Examine the foods that are brought into the home for their nutritional value.
* Understand how to read nutrition labels.
* Set limits on media and sedentary activities. Encourage family interaction: Does your child really need to have a TV and/or PC in his room?
* Decide, as a family project, the healthy menus and healthy choices of restaurant to frequent.
* Become actively informed in your child's school so that the PTA and School Board may learn about your concerns regarding food choices.
If we don't make some changes, the trends of today predict that our young children will be at high risk for obesity and obesity-related health risks like heart attacks, strokes, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Encouraging good eating habits and physical lifestyle in our children starts with us, the parents. This includes introducing a quality nutritional supplement program with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that are necessary protection for our children as they face more nutritional and environmental challenges than ever before.
Remember: When you are maximizing your family's health potential, we everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
? Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required. Email: eagibbs@ureach.com.
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." For more information and a free health assessment, go to eagibbs@ureach.com.
whole house cleaning Highland Park ..Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a member of the... Read More
Constipation is the passing of dry, hard faeces fewer than... Read More
If you're looking for a power-packed entr?e or soup to... Read More
Ionized minerals, colloidal minerals, chelated minerals . . . What... Read More
They sit left behind on relish trays. They're often by-passed... Read More
Unfortunately, it has been proved beyond doubt that a large... Read More
Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
There are basically four major components, or essential molecular components... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More
Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for... Read More
Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
Diets concern especially Americans as they do have a "national... Read More
You really are what you eat. You are also very... Read More
Do you want more energy? How about more of the... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
Following these simple nutrition guidelines will allow you to lose... Read More
Aging occurs when the body's cells die at faster rates... Read More
How many times have you tried to diet/lose weight in... Read More
Fat burning compatible foods seem to be a popular topic... Read More
The Benefits of SnackingYou may feel regretful about snacking, but... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..All of my life I believed the best way to... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
To research the health risks Sweet 'N Low and other... Read More
For decades science has been looking for the answers to... Read More
Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More
America's major dietary deficiency - EFA a panacea for good... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
If you do not take time to stand back at... Read More
Media coverage of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has incited... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
Nuts are readily available and provide a highly nutritious food.... Read More
Toxic metals exist in our environment as pollutants in our... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
There are a lot of very good reasons to eat... Read More
The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
Meal replacements have been part of the diet landscape for... Read More
You've no doubt heard the saying, "You are what you... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
Nutrition |