This probably comes as no surprise if you’re plugged into the news at all: approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of U.S. children and adolescents age 2-19 years are obese.
Dawn Dunlap, a member of the Health Education Council in West Sacramento, Calif., says that it’s community-based education programs give parents solid, doable ideas for healthier eating by their children.
“The individual has to make that decision to go above and beyond to be healthier,” Dunlap says. “Maybe it costs more to cook, but when it comes to feeding your family a healthy meal, it is cheaper than feeding them at a fast-food establishment.”
Dunlap cited Michael Pollan, a journalist specializing in the food industry, who wrote in “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”: “People say they don’t have time to cook, yet in the last few years we have found an extra two hours a day for the Internet.”
“Things really transitioned over the last 15 years,” says Carrie Beal, a nurse practitioner in Rancho Cordova, Calif., who is part of another nutrition education program that teaches parents healthier eating habits. “We’ve seen more kids that come in who are obese. Now we’re really focusing, right from the beginning, to avoid processed foods and push for fruits and vegetables.”
Steps to healthier eating
Beale’s tips for getting kids to eat healthier:
Set an example. Children notice a disconnect if you eat junk food but they can’t. Kids will eat what their parents eat, so eat your vegetables.
Give them water and low-fat milk to drink, not soda or juice.
Make sure they’re actually hungry. Often, kids and adults both mistake hunger for boredom, thirst or the need to chew. If your kid wants a snack, offer a fruit or a vegetable. If they’re truly hungry, they’ll take it. If they get picky, think twice.
Budget your time, and money, and get the family to help cook. Prepare meals on the weekend and freeze them for the rest of the week.
Frozen fruits are just as nutritious as fresh. Also, buying ingredients during peak season saves money.
Just don’t have it in the house. Having a junk-food-free home gives kids no choice but to eat healthy.
