[natFamLife] Ten Tips for Parents to Help Children Develop Healthy Lifestyle

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Misty L. Trepke

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Ten Tips for Parents to Help Children Develop a Healthy Lifestyle

From St. Louis Children's Hospital and Mothering.com

 

*Focus on one positive change together.

Trying to make too many changes at once sets you and your child up

for failure.

 

*Keep healthy food in the house.

It is difficult to eat properly if the right foods are not readily

available. Keep the junk food out of the house. Buy skim milk

instead of whole milk and pretzels instead of chips.

 

*Eat without distractions.

Turn off the television during mealtime. Enjoy meals together

without homework or reading materials. Look at healthy eating as a

way to take care of your body and mind.

 

*Allow your child to make food choices.

By enforcing rigid guidelines, a parent alters a child's internal

sense of hunger and satiety. By providing options, a child learns to

make positive choices consistently.

 

*Be aware of calories in beverages.

An eight-ounce glass of apple juice is made from three apples. Few

people could eat three apples at a sitting, but a thirsty child

could drink two or three glasses of apple juice and still eat a full

meal.

 

*Control portion size.

Limit the number of snacks and provide individual serving packages

or put a serving in a bowl. Giving a child a large bag of chips and

expecting him to stop after a few is unreasonable.

 

*Give positive, accurate feedback.

Be sure your child understands that you are supportive of efforts to

change bad habits. A comment such as " I noticed you chose an apple

as a snack after school today. Good for you! " encourages healthy

choices next time.

 

*Limit " screen time "

Aside from homework, keep game system, television and computer time

to a maximum of one hour per day. This is sedentary time could be

used in activities that burn calories.

 

*Enjoy life!

Playing in the sprinkler, leaves and snow burns calories and

develops healthy relationships within families.

 

*Consider your child's feelings

While keeping in mind that your long-term goal is to teach your

child healthy eating habits, don't lose sight of the wonderful

person you're trying to help. Treat him lovingly. Keep him happy.

Let him enjoy the things that children enjoy.