| NUTRITION TIPS |
| NUTRITION MORE CHILDREN ARE OVERWIEGHT OR OBESE THAN EVER BEFORE. OVERWEIGHT MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL WEIGHS MORE THAN THE RECOMMENDED FOR A GIVEN HIEGHT. OBESITY IS AN EXCESS OF BODY FAT. IN CHILDREN OBESITY HAS BEEN VARIOUSLY DEFINED AS: LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 20% OVER THE RECOMMENDED WEITH FOR HEIGHT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 85TH PERCENTILE FOR BODY MASS INDEX, (DIVIDE WEIGHT IN KILOGRAMS BY HEIGHT IN METERS SQUARED LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 25% OF WEIGHT AS FAT FOR BOYS AND LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 30% OF WEIGHT FOR GIRLS THIS IS A PARTICULAR CONCERN BECASUE BODY WEIGHT AND OVERFATNESS IN CHILDREN ARE SIGNIFICANT CARDIVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS, AND THE RISK TRACKS INTO ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD IF NOT CHECKED IN CHILDHOOD. LOW SELF ESTEEM AND EXCLUSION FROM SOCIAL CLUBS ARE OFTEN A RESULT OF OBESITY. WHAT SHOULD MY CHILD CONSUME? The main emphasis of the food pyramid is on five major food groups: AFTER THE AGE OF 2 OR 3 YOU CAN BEGIN TO USE 2% OR LOWFAT MILK INSTEAD OF WHOLE MILK. YOUR CHILDS DIET SHOULD RESEMBLE THAT OF THE REST OF THE FAMILIES, WITH 3 3 MEALS AND 2 NUTITIOS SNACKS EACH DAY. YOU SHOULD LIMIT MILK AND DAIRY TO ABOUT 16-24 OZ EACH DAY AND JUICE TO ABOUT 4-6 OZ EACH DY. ALWAYS OFFER A VARIETY OF FOODS TO ENCOURAGE GOOD EATING HABITS AVOID SWEET DESSERTS SOFT DRINKS FRUIT FLAVORED DRINGKS SUGARCOATED CEREAL CHIPS CANDY THESE FOODS HAVE VERY LITTLE NUTRITOUS VALUE CHOKING HAZARDS RAW CARROTS PEANUTS WHOLE GRAPES TOUGH MEATS POPCORN CHEWING GUM HARD CANDY PROPER NUTRITION PREVENTS MEDICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING OVERWIGHT, DEVELOPING WEAK BONES AND DEVELOPING DIABETES. TIPS EAT A VARIETY OF FOODS BALANCE THE FOOD YOU EAT WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CHOOSE A DIET WITH PLENTY OF GRAIN PRODUCTS, VEGGIES AND FRUITS CHOOSE A NATURALLY LOW FAT & CHOLESTEROL DIET CHOOSE A DIET MODERATE TO SUGARS AND SALTY FOOD CHOOSE A DIET THAT PROVIDES ENOUGH CALCIUM AND IRON TO MEET THEIR GROWING BODY'S REQUIREMENTS YOU CAN ALSO HELP PROMOTE GOOD NUTRITION BY SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE. HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND REGULAR EXCERCISE SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR DAILY ROUTINE TOO. IT IS MUCH EASIER IF EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE FOLLOWS THESE GUIDELINES, THAN IF YOUR CHILD HAS TO DO IT ALONE. YOU SHOULD ALSO BUY LOW CALORIE AND LOW FAT MEALS, SNACKS AND DESSERTS, LOW FAT OR SKIM MILK. AVOID BUYING HIGH FAT DESSERTS OR SNACKS, SUCH AS POTATOE CHIPS, CHEESE DOODLES AND ICE CREAM YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT NUTRITION PLAYS A MAJOR PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR CHILD AND EFFECTS PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING THEY DO. I DONT LIKE IT!!!!!! YES, WE ALL KNOW THAT CHILDREN HAVE THE INTENDENCY TO NOT LIKE IT, OR SO THEY SAY!!! IN ORDER FOR THEM TO EAT IT YOU MUST LIKE IT BECAUSE YOU ARE THEIR EXAMPLE. YOU ARE HTE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR CHILDREN SO IF YOU EAT IT, HOPEFULL IT WILL HELP THEM AS WELL IT IS OKAY TO OFFER A CHOICE OF FOODS BUT NO MORE THAN 3, THEY MUST NOT GET SPOILED BY THE CHOICES AND ON THE OTHER HAND YOU WANT THEM TO GET EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOODS DISGUISE FOODS. PICK FOODS THAT YOUR CHILD ALREADY LIKES AND MIX IN THE FOODS THAT YOU KNOW THEY NEED. MILKSHAKES AND SMOOTHIES ARE A GREAT WAY TO DISGUISE FOODS. FRUIT FILLED JELL-O IS A GREAT NUTRITION SOURCE DO NOT MAKE A BIG HABIT OF THIS, BUT TRY TO MAKE A GAME OUT O DINNER TIME. WHOEVER EATS ALL OF THEIR VEGGIES WINS THE GAME. |
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