Obesity in Children - Can We Do Better?
If the current levels of obesity and overweight in children continues, their life expectancy will more than likely be reduced.
By how much is unknown and of course this will depend on the food choices they make as they proceed through their adult years.
Studies have shown that only 1% of teenagers are eating the recommended three to four serves of whole fruit each day and only one in five younger children, and one in twenty older children are eating enough vegetables.
Research has also found that the majority of children are eating too much saturated fat and sugar, and almost a quarter were found to be overweight or obese.
So, what can we do to help our kids get enough of the foods they need and less of the foods they don't? Let's start by making home a whole food zone - it is much harder to convince your kids to eat fruit and vegetables when treat foods like chips, biscuits or soft drinks are available.
Most kids have the opportunity to have these foods at parties and other social occasions, so why not keep to whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, dairy, soy and lean proteins - at home.
Focus on fruit and vegetables - Try serving cut fruit instead of fruit juice as it's more likely to be eaten than whole fruit.
Add a dip of yogurt and honey.
Also have vegetables as snacks as well as in main meals.
Calcium top up - dried fruit, nuts and green vegetables all contribute calcium along with calcium fortified soy and dairy.
Reduce saturated fat - meat, cakes, biscuits and other processed foods often contain saturated fat (the bad fat that affects our heart health) - try to replace these with legumes, fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Choose water - remember water is the best option to meet the necessary fluid requirements.
Get active - to maintain a healthy weight, it's important to keep active with a minimum of thirty minutes of physical activity each day.
Limiting TV, video game and computer time encourages kids to try more active entertainment.
By how much is unknown and of course this will depend on the food choices they make as they proceed through their adult years.
Studies have shown that only 1% of teenagers are eating the recommended three to four serves of whole fruit each day and only one in five younger children, and one in twenty older children are eating enough vegetables.
Research has also found that the majority of children are eating too much saturated fat and sugar, and almost a quarter were found to be overweight or obese.
So, what can we do to help our kids get enough of the foods they need and less of the foods they don't? Let's start by making home a whole food zone - it is much harder to convince your kids to eat fruit and vegetables when treat foods like chips, biscuits or soft drinks are available.
Most kids have the opportunity to have these foods at parties and other social occasions, so why not keep to whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, dairy, soy and lean proteins - at home.
Focus on fruit and vegetables - Try serving cut fruit instead of fruit juice as it's more likely to be eaten than whole fruit.
Add a dip of yogurt and honey.
Also have vegetables as snacks as well as in main meals.
Calcium top up - dried fruit, nuts and green vegetables all contribute calcium along with calcium fortified soy and dairy.
Reduce saturated fat - meat, cakes, biscuits and other processed foods often contain saturated fat (the bad fat that affects our heart health) - try to replace these with legumes, fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Choose water - remember water is the best option to meet the necessary fluid requirements.
Get active - to maintain a healthy weight, it's important to keep active with a minimum of thirty minutes of physical activity each day.
Limiting TV, video game and computer time encourages kids to try more active entertainment.
