Posted on: October 11, 2007

You Might Be Overfeeding Your Child If …

Parents often are in denial about the eating habits of overweight and obese children. Here are some easy ways to tell if your child is eating too much, and developing bad health habits as a result

By Apryl Chapman Thomas
CTW Features

The replacement of outdoor activities with sedentary indoor fun (computer games, television) and increasingly poor eating habits have been substantial factors in the rise in childhood obesity. And while it’s not always possible to send kids out to play in today’s world, parents can initiate change in a child’s eating habits. And likely, it’s something the whole family can do together to start living a healthier lifestyle.

Problem: Eating in front of the TV

Solution: According to Molly Kimball, a registered dietician, this can be cured by simply enforcing the rule that all food is eaten in the kitchen or other designated areas. She adds the key, though, is that parents need to abide by this rule, too.

Problem: Mom playing short order cook

Solution: Does this sound familiar? You prepare meals to meet everyone’s needs, such as one dish for the adults and different dishes for the children. Kimball, a sports and lifestyle nutritionist for Ochsner’s Elmwood Fitness Center, New Orleans, La., says this isn’t good because it doesn’t expose kids to all types of foods. Also, it sends the message that they can get whatever they want, whenever they want it.

“Parents should prepare one meal,” she says. “Children eat that, or don’t eat that. At the most, there is one back-up-plan meal they can have if they don’t like dinner. There’ll be some protest up front, but if the parents stick to their rules, the children will adapt.”

Problem: Skipping breakfast

Solution: We’ve all heard countless times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Kimball says if children aren’t hungry for breakfast, chances are they are eating too much at night or snacking too much after dinner.

“Start limiting nighttime snacks and then experimenting with different breakfasts, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or cheese toast,” she says.

Problem: (Almost) Out-of-control eating at a friend’s house

Solution: Kimball says this often happens when the children’s own parents are super-strict about food. Therefore, they go nuts at other peoples’ houses where they are allowed to have chips, cookies and other sweets.

“Don’t make any foods off-limits,” she says. “If it’s too tough to keep in the house, then go out for ice-cream once a week, or allow them a cookie at the mall occasionally.”

Problem: Constant rummaging and snacking after school

Solution: She recommends offering two or three specific snack choices and that’s it.

“They still get to have a say in what their snack is, but parents are setting the guideline on the choices,” Kimball says.

Problem: Sitting around at home

Solution: Encourage the family to get up and go outside. Jyl Steinback, “America’s Healthiest Mom” and author of over a dozen healthy cookbooks, says swap 30-minutes of TV, video or computer time for 30 minutes of walking. Make it easier to get moving by waiting to turn on electronic entertainment until after the walk, so as not to get involved in a program or game.