Family Health: Your Child Is What You Eat! Starting early with good eating habits
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But here's what parents and even the waitress probably don't realize. Restaurants are not in the business of protecting your kid's health. They are in the business of making money, and foods like french fries and chicken nuggets cost them pennies to produce. The profit margin is huge.
The next time you go out to eat with your kids, ask for vegetables on the side instead of french fries. Better yet, don't order anything for your kid. Give him some of yours. Your portion is probably enough to feed three people anyway. Just make sure it's something healthy. You do not have to give in to what restaurants offer. You are the customer. Your kid will get used to it with time.
Watch out for grandparents.
One thing I've learned from my research on weight loss is that our minds associate food with pleasure - and it is painfully obvious. About a year ago, my wife, my son and I were visiting the grandparents. My father-in-law was feeding Matthew some grapes, which Matthew was thoroughly enjoying. Suddenly, my father-in-law asked, "Matthew, do you want a cookie?" It was how he said it, though - sort of seductively. Matthew's eyes lit up, he put down his grapes (the ones he was very much enjoying), and said, "Cookie, cookie, cookie!" So much for the grapes. I asked my father-in-law why he would offer Matthew a cookie if he was enjoying the grapes so much. I think he got caught up in the moment.
Make sure that whenever your child is away from your presence or visiting friends and relatives that they know you do not approve of them feeding your kid junk food. They probably don't mean any harm, but most people just don't know any better - which is why it has become customary to feed kids sugary, high-calorie snack foods. Ask them to offer your child something more nutritious, like a piece of fruit or whole-grain crackers.
Watch out for your own eating habits.
So you don't leave the kids with grandma and grandpa, you never go out to eat, and you don't pump your child full of sugar water. Terrific! But what do you eat? If you eat lots of pizza, Chinese food and burgers, there's a good chance your kid is doing the same. If vegetables don't appear on your plate, they probably don't appear on your child's plate either. If you're really committed to feeding your child healthfully, you have got to lead by example. After all, they mimic everything you do.
Keep in Mind . . .
If you want your child to live a healthy lifestyle and greatly reduce his chances of being overweight later on, it is critical that you start him off with good habits when he is young. Children get very used to sugar drinks, fries and cookies. They also get used to water, fruits and even fish. You are always in charge, no matter where you bring your child - whether it's the grandparents' house or the local Outback Steak House. Perhaps the first step is for you, the parent, to analyze your own eating habits and make the sacrifices you need to ensure that your children are getting the proper nutrition they need.
