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Not So Perfect Parent BLOG |
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August 2008
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Before having children, I was determined that my kids would eat healthy. They would eat what I served them - like it or not. After all, who's in charge here? Fast forward a couple of decades to my dinner table when, while forcing down green beans, my three-year-old throws up all over me and his Blue Clue's placemat. This incident was so traumatic for both of us that green beans have been permanently removed from the menu. Now, he makes gagging noises anytime he eats vegetables limiting the vegetable attempts to once-a-week rather than once-a-day. You see, in my day, my disdain for vegetables was balanced by the amount of physical activity. My bicycle was my primary means of transportation and I rode free of conditions such as helmets or knee pads with the only rule being, "be home before dark." I was pretty much in motion all day, every day. I didn't have the temptations of computers or video games. Yes, TV was there, and I was a sucker for Love Boat and Fantasy Island, but those aired after dark and I could easily break-away from "Bewitched" reruns that aired after school. Today, the stakes are higher. According to a recent study appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, physical activity peeks in the third grade and then quickly plummets from there. Fingers are pointed to many culprits including the aforementioned pull of the plug-ins, fast-food industry's marketing tactics for children, and of course, behavior modeled by mom and dad. It's a real problem. Children's obesity rates have skyrocketed and health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease at an all-time high. Okay - so here's the good news. We are not alone. There are resources where we can turn to help us in our crusade against obesity. I have already started on this quest beginning at the dinner table. There, healthy choices are offered along with an open dialogue about good nutrition. It seems to be working. My eight-year-old is beginning to look at food labels and doesn't protest in the drive-through when I insist on a grilled chicken sandwich versus a cheeseburger. There are also many on-line resources for moms and dad to review. I have listed a few of my favorites: www.freggiekidz.com 1) Activities, charts and tools to help kids learn why that pesky Created by a mom of small children, the activities and tools found in the game are geared toward children ages 3-8. However, the information applies to all of us and is useful throughout our lives. In fact, consider playing along with your child. He or she will love your involvement and you will reap the health benefits!
www.kidshealth.org www.healthiergeneration.org www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/resources.htm www.pbs.org www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/ Yes, today's generation of parents have to fight new battles to keep our kids safe and healthy. Still, we have many more resources than previous generations to manage this challenge. As with most childhood trials, it is up to us parents to provide the best resources possible to win this war against obesity and all of the health conditions that come with this epidemic. If we pull together, we can make a difference and insure a healthier, more active, vegetable-eating generation! 2 CommentsLeave a comment |
there is a book out on how to make recipe so your kids will eat they're veggies, its by jessica seinfield called deceptively delicious. good luck
You had a lady and her son on your show last Monday who had developed a game (program) to entice children to eat their veggies through play and choice. This is HUGE. This woman needs more publicity because her program can work! We live in a society that completely de-emphasizes nutrition and consequently have the global rare condition of a nation with over weight children. Please have this lady back on a future show AND please list her web address in a manner where it can be easily found. This "game" could be an answer for millions of parents' greatest nightmare, to say nothing about the frustration physicians feel when they look at the long-term health risks involved with pediatric obesity. Promote this woman's "game". It could save the life of a child. Thank you.