Like every parent, I worry about the health of my children. In my case, my worry is colored by the fact that I was obese as a teenager. One of the first questions I asked my pediatrician was how to prevent the same from happening to my child. And my child wasn’t even 2 weeks old.
Given the current childhood obesity “epidemic” in America, the question of “What can a parent do?” is a frequent topic of discussion. There’s no clear answer, it seems.
Nevertheless, I’ve reflected on the factors that led to my own obesity and came up with a to-do list that I use to try and steer my own children.
Model an active lifestyle. Growing up, my default activity was watching television. Nowadays, my household’s default activity is … activity. Playing, going for a walk, dancing … anything goes.
Make a clear distinction between good health and good looks. As a teen, I often heard about my weight as a function of my appearance. As a parent, I emphasize good eating habits and activities as a function of my kids’ health—and that weight will naturally follow.
Model good eating habits. I copied the eating habits of those around me—some good, some bad. It took me years to ditch the bad ones (though I still have a few vices, I admit).
As for distinguishing good habits from bad, I consulted a professional and came up with these main points:
Don’t force feed We’ve all been told to “finish our food” and “empty our plates.” This was probably a habit sent down from the days of no refrigerators. I have a refrigerator. If my kids say they’re full, they’re told to put their leftover food in it.
Beware of hiding nutrients in calories It’s tempting to hide veggies so kids will eat them. It was done to me. I do it, too. However, I’m careful about using sugar, oil and carbs to hide the veggies. I also try to involve my kids in cooking so they are aware of the healthy foods going in.
Beware the forbidden ‘fruit’ of junk food It’s tempting to label certain foods as bad, but such labels backfired when I was a teenager. It was thrilling to buy a potato chips precisely because it felt … oh so bad.
Ultimately, be mindful of their health metrics and seek professional advice when something’s amiss.
Neera Siva is a health enthusiast, mom, patent attorney and writer.Check out her website at healthierbites.com.
