Let’s prevent Childhood Obesity from Invading our Country

Children sometime Surpass Adults on the Weighing Scale

Everything has a logical explanation behind its occurrence. But childhood obesity is one of the few exceptions which does not have a definite cause for its occurrence. The entire family can come together to solve this issue by eating nutritious foods and pledging upon a healthy lifestyle.

The Most Critical Meal of the Day
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us, notably children. As the name suggests, breakfast helps to break the overnight fast and is essential for important body functions. It helps to maintain blood sugar levels by providing necessary carbohydrates, prepares muscles for the day’s work and nourishes all the body cells with the vital nutrients for growth. Most importantly, breakfast prevents your child’s hunger in the morning from becoming gorging during the latter part of the day.
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Very rare absenteeism, less slowness and decreased hunger-induced stomachaches in the morning are some of the benefits of a healthy breakfast, according to research professionals. Children who eat their breakfast display finer academic performance in terms of better concentration power, problem solving ability and better muscle coordination. Breakfast advantages and healthy breakfast options are detailed at www.firsteatright.com.

​Mom’s Food is Simply the Best
Eating out or partying with friends happens frequently among young children nowadays which is another major contributing factor to childhood obesity. Portion sizes at fast food outlets and eat outs have increased tremendously through the years and the best way to maintain healthy weight in kids is to limit eating out. For example, some twenty years back, an order of French fries was around 55 grams and contained 210 calories, whereas now, an average order of fries is around 200 grams and contains 610 calories. Similarly, a small soft drink was 192 ml with 85 calories, but today the same soft drink serving is almost 600 ml and contains nearly 250 calories.

Portion Sizes of Junk Foods have Multiplied Over Time

A study concluded that while all adolescents consumed extra calories while eating out, overweight adolescents were prone to overeating when eating out. While many restaurants nowadays offer low-calorie foods and healthy meal options, teens mostly choose from high-calorie burgers, chicken nuggets, French fries and soft drinks.

Eat Small Portions at Regular Intervals
We eat what is served onto our plates. Eating from smaller plates and cups results in consuming less food while eating from bigger ones makes us consume more food. The best way to cut down on portion size is to scale back on plate and cup size for the entire family.
The best way to consume food is to eat smaller portions at frequent intervals. Active children may need two to three nutritious snacks along with their three meals daily. Playing by the kid-sized portion rules can prevent unnecessary calorie overloads. Snacking frequently may not end up in obesity. The health quotient and portion size of the snack are the main criteria. Snacks can never be a replacement for your meal. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts and low-fat dairy foods are great snacking options to consume between your regular meals.