Worried about how to keep kids from getting fat.

[NothingUpMySleeve 244]

I have two kids, 3 and 4, that are the love of my life. My son is big but thin; my daughter is not a big eater at all but she is a bit chubby. I don't really notice it until she's around other kids and she's a lot thicker. Both kids like to swim, play outside, etc.

My husband and I are trying to build healthy family habits, and since we're both sleeved, there's not a lot of junk in the house anyway. My pediatrician isn't overly alarmed but asked us to keep an eye on it. I feel like we are doing all the things recommended for healthy kids, but I wonder if it's really possible for two parents who've battled weight to have kids that can outrun their genetic lottery toward weight gain. Thoughts?

[DarbiMolly 188]

Hi, I understand your concern. For sure genetics play a part but now that you are aware you can make sure they eat healthy. Remember, you buy the groceries, you make the food, its really up to you what they eat!

[Luvin_Life125 558]

I have the same concerns for my sons (7&10). It is something we work for everyday. We discuss the importance of healthy food choices and exercise. Treats aren't labelled as bad, but as something we have occasionally. My youngest has life threatening food allergies which has made us read ingredient labels for every item we buy. We have turned label reading into a teachable moment and they are learning the difference between natural food and chemical "food". I also use their school lessons in our house to broaden their understanding. All we can do is try. Nobody is perfect but the fact that you worry about their nutrition says a lot! Hang in their and know that just by trying to find out how to help them is the biggest and most difficult first step!

[Bufflehead 6,358]

I would say first of all, switch from "not a lot of junk in the house" to "no junk in the house." Second, if you are feeding them Snacks, just give them one mid-afternoon snack. In most European cultures, adults don't regularly eat snacks and children just have one mid or late afternoon snack. They are not starving to death but they are a lot slimmer than we Americans are! This will help your children come to the meal table hungry for the healthy food you have prepared for them, Also, they will grow up understanding that you don't have to go through the day constantly noshing on something.

My sister went through this with her daughter, and in addition to restricting snacking to one afternoon snack, she worked with a dietician who specializes in children's nutrition. She learned to do these things with her daughter:

--get her involved in shopping for and preparing food, and letting her pick out her favorite veggie or her favorite main dish to be prepared once a week;

--make a variety of healthy foods and encourage her to to taste all of them, but if she doesn't want to taste it or eat it, it isn't a big deal. Just try the same food again a few weeks later. Keep trying it every few weeks!

--don't be a short order cook. If your child doesn't want their chicken, fine, they can have extra broccoli or extra brown rice or whatever else has already been prepared for the meal -- but don't make them a PB&J sandwich.

--no eating in front of screens. And for at least one meal a day, the whole family should sit down together and eat together with no electronic interruptions allowed.

Disclaimer: I'm not a parent! This is just from my sister's experience. It worked really well for her family though.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Bufflehead

[LumpySpacePrincess 594]

Kids burn a TON more calories in a day than adults do. I'm not a fan of restricting out junk food completely for kids because it can lead to a sense of deprivation (especially if they see other kids eating what they want) and can cause a backlash of bingeing when they're older and can get the food for themselves. Keep their meals balanced and properly portioned. For Snacks, just make sure they're eating just ONE serving of whatever it is, even if its fruit. Teaching them what a proper portion looks like will help them later when they're more independent and you're not in control of what they eat anymore.

[Dulce_jtrivera 31]

This is also one of my biggest concerns. I have three children, my son is 2 1/2 and my daughters(twins) are 15 months. Since I have started doing research on wls, our household's eating habits have changed drastically. Where there used to be chips and Cookies, now there are fresh fruit, vegies, low fat string cheese and yogurts. I have not cut out their Snacks, just made them healthy choices.

I am now cooking 95% of the meals that we eat and once a month we go to a sit down restaurant and we all order the healthy choices that are on the menu. My children mean the world to me and I do not want them to go through the struggle of being obese.

I am the only one in my family that is obese. All of my adult life and most of my childhood I have been told to lose weight, go on a diet, be better at being me. I do not want this for my kids. Now when someone asks me if my family is dieting (mostly when I am grocery shopping), I tell them no, this is our lifestyle. Hopefully, I can project this new me onto my children and they will make better, healthier choices.

Edited June 5, 2014 by Dulce_jtrivera