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To keep good eating habits in your children, make
meals pleasant and well balanced, keep nutritious snacks in the house,
and don't use food as a bribe or a substitute for attention. Parents
sometimes create eating problems in their children because they fail to
understand the eating patterns of children at various ages.
Preschoolers who are offered a variety of nutritious foods will, over
the course of a week, take in all the calories and nutrients needed for
healthy growth-as long as meals haven't become a battleground. Try not
to make an issue of a toddler's picky eating habits. Have young children
eat (or not eat, as the case may be) with the family, but don't insist
that they finish anything they don't like. If your child's weight
concerns you, consult your pediatrician. To avoid weight problems, some
parents give toddlers too few calories and too little fat. Children
under age 2 need proportionally more fat than adults; at age 2, a diet
that limits calories from fat to 30 percent of total calories can be
phased in gradually. Snacks can be a good source of nutrients for young
children.
Busy teenagers often miss meals and then fill up on high-fat snacks.
Encourage older children to eat with the family by being flexible about
meal schedules. Stock the pantry with healthy snacks they can take with
them. Some teens skip meals because they become obsessed about losing
weight and are drawn to fad diets. In rare cases, a preoccupation with
weight loss can lead to eating disorders. Parents can help by taking
their child's concerns about weight seriously and offering healthy,
low-calorie meals.
Children should diet to lose weight only under medical supervision.
Growing preteens rarely need to lose weight; at most they may have to be
placed on a program to control weight gain. Overweight teenagers may
benefit from a doctor's objective advice about choosing low-fat foods
and burning more calories through exercise. Parents should be alert to a
child's use of food to meet emotional needs.
Source: Reader's Digest: The Good Health Fact Book
Disclaimer: All the information on this page is strictly
provided for informational purposes to better educate yourself only. It is
not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other
medical professional. Do not use the information contained herein for
diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any
medication.
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