Obesity and our children

Often as a dietary manager, I'm asked questions concerning childrens diets.  I can tell you we allow our children way too much junk and often our busy lifestyles prevent us from really taking a look at what our children are eating.  A few years back, my own children were starting to become overweight and I faced the same challenge lots of moms face.  What to feed them?  In our family we eliminated sodas and juices sweetened with high fructose corn syrups.  I now stock our fridge with water, 2% milk and sugarfree drinks.  Mostly it's water that we remind our kids to drink.  I also buy lots of apples, oranges and bananas.  I buy cheese for snacks too.  Other than homemade cookies, (Mama's Chocolate Chippers are a favorite - so easy my kids can cook them) and desserts we make at home.  We never buy premade sweets.   I only purchase whole wheat breads too.  We do make our homemade rolls and pizza for meal times.   At first elimanating all the sweetened cereals, snacks and chips caused lots of complaints, but now our children are creative when they want a snack.  Lots of times I will see one reach for peanut butter and slice an apple.  Or another grab a banana and a glass of milk.  Or another will eat a slice of toast with a cup of yogurt.  Or a cup of yogurt with some sliced strawberries.  And another will make Sesame Garlic Dip and get some carrots & celery to eat.   Seems odd, but our grocery budget also went down.  We now try to plan mealtime 3 times a week as a family and have Friday and Saturdays as kids make their own meals.  Our easy Country Gourmet meals are great for our teenagers, because they can help out and cook.  They also sometimes opt for pizza or sandwiches.  These are a few snack foods I recommend, because they are full of vitamins and healthy for you and your children.

Yogurt - I can't say enough about yogurt, it is so healthy for you.  (We only buy  natural, hormone free yogurt that has active yogurt cultures.  Vanilla is great because you can add fruit and it really is delicious)  Yogurt has active bacteria, which is beneficial to your intestines and will help kill harmful bacteria.  It's great for helping children and adults who have irritable bowels and allergies.  Yogurt will help boost low immune systems. Also a great source of vitamin D and Calcium.  (Dannon smoothies are another great product - go to their website to learn more.)  Here's my personal theory on yogurt's health benefits.  When a digestive system is messed up from harmful bacteria, it causes the body not to asorb the right nutrients from food.  Correct the digestive system, then the body can benefit from healthy foods and vitamins by absorbing the necessary nutrients.

Apples - the old saying "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away."  is accurate, because they are loaded with vitamin C and fiber and pectin.  Pectin helps promote healthy blood vessels also.   Did you know lots of time if you have a headache, you can eat an apple and you will feel better?

Peanut Butter and nuts - Nuts are protein packed and just a small amount will satisfy cravings and help keep you from over eating. 

Grapes, plums, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc... and other dark fruits are all high in anitoxidants, phytonutrients as well as vitamins, which help boost your immune system, keep your skin healthy, and also help as an anti-inflammatory.  Go to www.nutrition.gov to study antioxidants and how they help repair cells damage.

Carrots - these are a great kid friendly snack.  High in vitamin A, as well as many other benefits.

Children who are obese:  This is a great website that deals with obesity in children and they have a great program.  www.45pounds.com

Nutrition Information