Natural Living - the Non Toxic Life

Obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension and increases the risk of coronary heart disease. There is also a substantial increase in diabetes. Both of which are life altering to an extent that can lead to death.

When you see an obese child you will most likely find that the parents are also obese. This is when some people would like to say it must be genetics. That (genetics) maybe the case in a VERY FEW instances. If you spent time with these families I think you would find that it involves their daily habits & not their DNA.

When a child is little they have no choice but to eat what is offered by the parents. By the time the child is old enough to start picking their own food they have already formed eating habits. These habits are set by the parents!

Many families do not have the money to hire a family nutritionist or trainer. But there are several things that can be done to help with weight that do not require a big financial burden.

Stop eating at restaurants. Most restaurants serve high fat, high calorie, & over processed food. Families also tend to eat faster in a restaurant setting. If you do eat in a place that serves large portions, ask for a to go box BEFORE you get your meal. When your meal arrives put part of your meal in the box, then you will be less temped to eat more than you wanted.

Eat 4-6 smaller meals a day rather than 3 large meal.

Eat slower! Chew your food! A great way to slow down eating is to put your fork (or spoon) down between every bite.

Clean out your cupboards! Get rid of the high fat & processed sugar snacks. It is much harder to snack on foods if they are not readily available.

Keep fruits & vegetables handy. Pre slice a bag of carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peaches. That way they are easy to reach in & grab for a snack.

No TV while eating! Do not watch TV while eating or there becomes an association that you will soon form watching TV with food.

Only eat while sitting at the kitchen table. This will cut down on boredom eating. Most kids do not want to just sit at a table when they could be doing something else.

Exercise! The U.S. Surgeon General recommends moderate physical activity for children every day for at least 60 minutes. This can be any activity! Make it a family walk, go for a swim, play ball in your yard, turn on music & dance. Most people will do more exercise if it is a group activity.

Water!! Drink water to flush out toxins that may make you feel sluggish.

These are all simple things that can be done in any household. The trick is that the entire family & any guest must all follow these rules!

Changing your habits now could save your life & your child’s life.

Have a healthy day,
Sheryl Loch ~ allmylovecrafts