Help Your Children Stay Slim

It is a fact that we have a national problem of our children being over weight.  According to an article in the August 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, below are some tips to help your child stay slim.

1. Beverage count! Get rid of sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, and punches.  Swap in almost-calorie-free options like seltzer with a splash of fruit juice.

2. Establish a rule that there will be not eating in front of the TV.  It's a fact that kids are more likely to overeat in front of the tube.

3. Pre-measure portions of snack foods.  Put snacks into small zip-seal bags rather than letting kids dig into a big bowl.

4. Encourage a good night;s sleep.  New Zealand researchers found that kids ages 5 to 11 who clock less than 11 hours nightly are more likely to be obese adults.

5. Set an example.  A study from Yale University found that children whose parents encouraged them to exercise (and sometimes joined in) maintained healthier body weights.

6. Limit salt. The more sodium lids consume, the more they drink - often in the form of sodas and juices that pack on pounds. Stay under the maximum recommended sodium allowance (2,200 milligrams for kids ages 9 to 13).

7. Encourage kids to split entrees from the regular menu when dining out. Kids' meals are notoriously high in fat, calories, and sodium.