Child's Weight Course is a Family Affair

re: Child's Weight Course is a Family Affair

Queen Mab — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:32:58 GMT

Whoa - takes no time at all to cook up some quinoa, a few eggs, chop up a salad of whatever fresh veggies are at hand...

and fruit & nuts for dessert.

Why do folks think it's so hard to just cook normal food?

We eat darn healthy with both of us working full-time.

diet soda????? BLEH

anyway, popcorn is so easy to pop in a pan, why bother with the microwave stuff that comes out half duds?

re: Child's Weight Course is a Family Affair

LM36 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:39:55 GMT

My first grader asked if she could eat food from the school cafeteria this upcoming school year and I said "No Way!" I have worked hard to make sure they have eaten healthy thus far, and I am not about to turn over my hard work to the local school who serves non-organic, processed meats, garbage cheap food (if you can call it that) for lunch!

The real key to succcess is when your child actually seeks out healthy foods and makes good choices on their own accord. I love it when my child goes to the refrigerator and pulls out some blueberries for a snack by choice! Parents who teach by force are facing a losing battle. Only the parents who set an example (do as I do) and teach children in a non forceful way will truly succeed at raising healthy, smart children.

re: Child's Weight Course is a Family Affair

Anathema — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:12:04 GMT

It is interesting we blame institutions for childhood obesity. Moms and dads are both working, tired and stretched thin so food becomes a psychological pacifier as well as a downgraded status in value.

However, as easy as it is to criticize the family for not being absolute purists, they should get a little credit for trying. That first mental hurdle is the hardest. They are beginners and I believe in being positive and giving them a pat on the back for beginning, not a kick in the head. I would give a person giving up cigarettes encouragement, not a "That's not good enough!" They will still see benefits from the little they are doing. You have to remember it's still a big change for them (and others). The fact they are even trying is the paradigm shift badly needed to assert control over our (American society's) health.

I am hopeful once they begin to see any sort of benefits from diet change, no matter how puny and meager to seasoned health purists, that it will be a catalyst to further educating themselves.

re: Child's Weight Course is a Family Affair

BiomedE — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:54:43 GMT

Hey all,

Grilled chicken and diet soda are healthy?! Well, it's a start, I suppose.

This article reminded me of a study I read a few weeks ago http://www.freakonomics.com/pdf/whatmakesfoodfattening.pdf (on the website of the book Freakonomics - a fun read if you get a chance). It's a high-level (as in, non micro-biological) overview of various studies that look at weight gain and loss and various factors that seem to contribute to levels of hunger (and thus of food and calorie consumption), and I think they make a fairly convincing case for their theory (though a solid biological mechanism would be nice - that's not their field).

Dr. Mercola's over-arching diet suggestions do, naturally, fit right in with their theory. And it explains why it takes a few weeks to really taste the subtle flavors in a lot foods if you're used to high-sugar foods. I thought that at least some of the people here might enjoy the read.

Keep up the good work! I'm really glad I stumbled upon this site about three years ago.

Health and cheers to all.

re: Child's Weight Course is a Family Affair

miabella7 — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:16:46 GMT

Education is definitely key, but it should start in the home. Educating parents to make better choices and take responsibility for their kid's health is more effective than replacing vending machines at schools with Snackwells and Diet Coke. Parents are ultimately responsible for the health of their children. I don't buy the "I'm too busy so I'll leave it up to the doctors and school administrators to make choices for me" bit. Losing weight is key to acheiving optimal health if overweight, but at the expense of a solid immune system? The faux foods diet isn't a great idea for the parents and it's certainly not a good idea for the kids.

re: Child's Weight is a Family Affair

Rogway — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:29:52 GMT

When the root cause is eleminated...the tree of obesety will wither away!

Comments here on V V are helping recognize the root cause.

re: Child's Weight is a Family Affair

Islander — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:21:01 GMT

Thank you, Captain Obvious!

This is pathetic. $1300 for a common-sense lifestyle? Boy howdy, if I could use the phrase "Islander Medical Center," perhaps I too could get rich selling common sense. And I don't call microwave popcorn and artificial sweeteners part of a healthful diet.

The fact is, parents have complete control over what they and their children eat. If they see that their kids are getting fat, they can act responsibly to alter the child's diet...except that that probably means altering their own as well. No more prepared foods. Uh-oh.

When did this shift in irresponsible, indulgent eating take place? Was it a desire for convenience? A barrage of commercials? (I don't watch tv, so I can''t judge). The growth of fast food outlets? Or something else?

What about enormous restaurant portions? I take 1/2 to 2/3 of mine home, but I see everyone else cleaning their plate. Where do they put it? Is this gluttony or lunacy?

re: Child's Weight is a Family Affair

Russ Bianchi — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:54:58 GMT

Regular exercise, and real nutrient food, unprocessed, have no substitutions.

re: Child's Weight is a Family Affair

proatc — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:48:37 GMT

I think programs like this should be incorporated into normal school programs. All kids can benefit from this education. Just because they are not fat now, doesn't mean they won't be fat later.

Not enough self-Health education and it has to start somewhere other than the Hospitals where it is possibly too late. Plus kids might equate Hospitals with bad Health.

After the program is developed and part of a normal balanced education, then we can tweak-out the baked Cheetos for a piece of fruit.

re: Child's Weight is a Family Affair

mmc88121 — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 17:59:17 GMT

Chirocheer you forgot the microwaved popcorn. Part of the "good" standard American Diet (S.A.D.)

Mary

re: Child's Weight is a Family Affair

chirocheer — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 13:01:59 GMT

When did low-fat crackers, low-fat cheese, baked Cheetos, and diet Mt. Dew become healthy? We have SO far to go!!