Is your child overweight? Talking to them about the necessity to maintain a healthy weight can be touchy. It’s a sensitive subject but it’s important to teach your children about the importance of getting healthy and to encourage them to lose weight. Let them know you’re concerned about their weight but don’t harp on them and make them feel defensive. Show them that a healthy lifestyle will lead to a healthy weight for the whole family.
It seems seem simple, but the most powerful thing you can do for your family is to lead be a good example. If your children see you eating healthy they will, too. When you prepare meals make sure they are nutritious, as well as delicious-tasting. Encourage your entire family to eat healthy food and take nutrition seriously. Don’t single out any children. Keep healthy snacks in your cupboards instead of junk food.
Don’t think of food as a way of rewarding yourself and teach your children the same. If you bribe your children with sugary treats for good behavior or chores they will confuse the role food plays in their lives. Emphasize that healthy eating should be a lifestyle not a reward system.
After you’ve gotten your cub hoards in order, spend time getting more active. Find ways for the entire family to get moving and burn calories. Play some outdoor sports, go swimming or just talk a walk. Motivate your overweight children by getting the whole family involved.
Above all, be supportive of your child’s struggles to lose weight. They are bound to have setbacks, so expect some fluctuations on the scale. It helps to have realistic expectations for your child’s weight loss. Talk to your child about their views about food. Help them to think of food as nourishment and not a replacement for affection or comfort. Focus on being healthy rather than the scale.
Show your child how a few minor changes can have a large impact and help them keep their weight off permanently. If they see you being healthy they will likely do the same.
Take your child grocery shopping with you. Show them which foods are desirable and which aren’t. Explain why. They will understand why you aren’t buying certain foods once they are part of the process. Let them help you make selections from healthy items. Be sure to remove temptation and take all the unhealthy items from your house.
Weight loss is a struggle most people will go through at some point in their lives. If your child is overweight, help them to overcome their issues with food early on in their lives.
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