Learn how your healthy diet can positively influence your child & provide them with a healthy diet that will follow them a lifetime!  

Sedentary computer games, fast food, extended school hours – these are just a few examples of the things in today's world that influence our children's health. Your eating habits also have a big bearing on your child.

According to The American Health Foundation, no less than one-fourth of our youth can be classified as overweight. That number continues to increase yearly at an alarming rate. It's becoming more and more common to hear about a young person suffering a heart attack or a stroke. Medical technology is reveling in its finest hour, yet stands with hands tied amid this nationwide crisis.

Being overweight can lead to a variety of adult diseases: coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, certain cancers, gallbladder disease, arthritis, gout and restricted mobility. Compared to normal-weight children, overweight children are sick longer, are more susceptible to complications from surgery, more susceptible to infections, and experience delayed healing. Menstrual problems are more prone in overweight females. There is also a self-image/self-esteem issue, which is critical to positive human development.

Dietary Requirements

Your child has much different dietary requirements than you do. If you are unsure of these requirements, meet with your Pediatrician and ask to be provided with guidelines.

Sodium

According to figures published in Consumer Reports:

One ounce of cornflakes has nearly twice the sodium found in an ounce of salted peanuts.

Two slices of white bread contain more sodium than 14 potato chips.

One-half cup of prepared chocolate pudding has more sodium than 3 slices of bacon.

Sugar

Sugar is found is many of our kids' favorite foods. Just think about it: pies, cakes, ice cream, cookies, chocolate, candy, cereal, soft drinks! Sugar is also an ingredient in these 'kid-favorite' foods: cured meats, baked beans, salad dressing, peanut butter, ketchup, yogurt, spaghetti sauces, soups, and breads.

Consider the amounts of sugar found in these tasty treats:

A regular 12-ounce soft drink contains 9-12 teaspoons of sugar.

One-quarter cup of maple syrup has about 7 teaspoons of sugar.

A package of Hostess Twinkies contains about 6 teaspoons of sugar.

A 10-ounce McDonald's chocolate shake has almost 10 teaspoons of sugar.

One cup of low fat yogurt contains almost 11 teaspoons of sugar!

Fat

Dietary fat plays an important roll in overall health and is necessary to the diet. The problem is consuming an excess of fat. Be sure and consult your Pediatrician about your child's daily fat requirement. Infants and children under two need high levels of fat for proper growth and development. Cutting fat could result in problems in terms of maturity of body organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys and brain and could even stunt the growth of your child. Children get most of their fat intake from: red meat in the form of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, meat loaf, hot dogs, ham, luncheon meats, whole milk, ice cream, cheese, commercially baked goods. fried foods.

Fiber

Fiber plays an important role in reducing certain kinds of cancer. These foods are good sources of fiber for anyone:

legumes – all beans, sweet potatoes, apples, prunes, carrots, peas, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, cereal – especially oatmeal and raisin bran, and rice.

Everything is 'bigger' these days when dining out. "Biggie" fries, "Supersize" option. The Triple-Decker Pizza at Pizza Hut has more fat than a stick and a half of butter! When ordering, opt for the smaller version - or share the larger one with your child. If it's not enough food, you can always order more.

The Parent Factor – The positive roll you can play in your child's diet, health and fitness. What a responsibility! What an opportunity!!!

Feed your child a variety of foods that are balanced with physical activity.

Provide a diet that is low in fat and saturated fat and cholesterol; high in fiber; moderate in sugars, salt and sodium.

Modify your kid's favorite foods rather than introducing unfamiliar ones.

Decrease salt when cooking.

Include fresh foods and fewer processed ones.

Choose leaner cuts of meat and strictly limit red meat.

Limit canned tuna, as well as fresh fish. Recent findings site mercury is more concentrated in some fish than previously thought.

Always keep a fresh supply of milk on hand for your child. We all know the benefits of milk – stronger bones, whiter teeth, extra calcium.

Find out what foods your child is eating away from home, such as during school.

Encourage your child to drink water, a precious and necessary cleansing agent.

 

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