Healthy Habits

Healthy eating habits are important for children.

The Surgeon General has put out a call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity!

A recent study indicated that 13% of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14% of adolescents in the United States are overweight, and unfortunately, obesity is on the rise.

Poor eating habits and lack of exercise are putting our children at risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. It’s important for parents to guide their children toward healthier foods, and to encourage exercise and outdoor activities.

Note: Children should get 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Parents and caregivers can encourage swimming, biking, skating, ball sports and other fun activities. Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise and enjoyment.

Tips for parents: IF YOUR CHILD IS OVERWEIGHT

* Many overweight children who are still growing will not need to lose weight, but can reduce their rate of weight gain so that they can "grow into" their weight.

* Your child's diet should be safe and nutritious. It should include all of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins, minerals, and protein and contain the foods from the major Food Guide Pyramid groups. Any weight-loss diet should be low in calories (energy) only, not in essential nutrients.

* Even with extremely overweight children, weight loss should be gradual.

* Crash diets and diet pills can compromise growth and are not recommended by many health care professionals.

* Weight lost during a diet is frequently regained unless children are motivated to change their eating habits and activity levels for a lifetime.

* Weight control must be considered a lifelong effort.

* A physician should supervise any weight management program for children.

For more information, visit the Health and Human Services website: www.hhs.gov

For free recipes, you can visit the American Institute for Cancer Research at www.aicr.org. These recipes not only offer healthy, nutritious meals, but have the added benefit of including foods that may help prevent cancer as well.