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Setting the Example

Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he’s older he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) That is so true. As parents you have the hardest job in the world; raising children. With that job come a lot of responsibilities. Teaching your children how to make healthy food choices is included. Obesity in children is growing at a very fast rate with 1 out of 3 kids considered obese or overweight. Today’s kids don’t get enough exercise. They spend too much time in front of the TV with console games like XBOX, Play station and Wii. Not to mention the computer.

Our society has gotten away from the basics of home cooking, family meals and playing outside. It’s up to the parents to lead by example. We’ve got to show our children that eating and being healthy is a good thing.

Even though I don’t have kids (yet) I know that it will be up to me and my husband (me more than him) to set a good example when it comes to what our kids will eat. Making healthy eating choices is not as hard as you may think. Once you start, it becomes a life style and you can do it without giving it too much effort. There will be certain food that I will not allow my kids to consume on regular bases such as foods high in saturated fat like French fries, and partially hydrogenated fats like some of the processed foods including chips and cookies. There are so many other healthy alternatives available that will be just as good.

While I know some of you are saying, “She says that now, just wait until she has kids.” Let me ask you a question? If you never ate asparagus, how can you tell someone what it taste like? You can’t. I truly believe that people get caught up what it looks like more than how it taste. You can’t miss or dislike what you’ve never had.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know kids will be kids and they’ll want to eat things that are not healthy for them and I will allow it, but only in moderation. Children often duplicate what their parents do. Just image if you always drink water and they never see you drink a soda, they’ll adapt the same behavior. I would encourage you to explain to them why you’re not allowing them to drink sugar loaded drinks though.

Since this is a new year and you’re making some changes in your eating habits why not make this a family affair. It’s never too late to change, just be sure you explain to your kids why you’re making this change. Stopping them cold turkey will only lead to frustration. Make small adjustments at first and get their feedback. Remember change doesn’t happen overnight and making small changes is better than not doing anything at all.

Here are a few adjustments to get you started:

1. Have more fruit available-make it visible in a bowl on the counter
2. Try baked chips or sun chips instead of the regular
3. Eat whole grain bread
4. Try a low sugar, high fiber cereal
5. Use 2% milk instead of whole
6. Granola bars instead of cookies
7. Low fat graham crackers with sprinkles of semi chocolate chips place in microwave for 10 seconds with a scoop of low fat whip cream. (Mmm Mmm good!)
8. Fat free snack size popcorn
9. Trail mix (caution make sure they don’t have a peanut allergy first!)
10. Dried fruit
11. Flavored rice cakes with peanut butter

Give some of these options a try. Let’s strive to make our kids future healthier one meal at a time while decreasing the rate of obesity.