It's a touchy subject. What to do... I would not suggest giving kids or adolescents a diet plan, mentioning their need to do a diet, or have them counting their food. โ EVER. I also suggest not restricting or labeling a food as good or bad. Regardless if your doctor advises your child lose weight, these are my tips: ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ - Unless they are nearing adulthood, you are likely the one doing the shopping and feeding your child. Is your pantry or fridge full of chips, candy, energy drinks, and juice or soda? Instead have snack-able options and veggies at the front of the fridge and fruit on the kitchen counter within eyesight. This doesn't mean you need to force your child to eat carrots or eradicate every snack in your house, but kids will eat what is available. If candy, chips, and soda are always available, well... Think you can hide it and they won't see you eating or drinking it? You know your kids are smarter than that! :-D ๐๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ - You probably used to eat what your parents were having, right? At least for dinner. Give children a choice or a say in that or even better let them help you cook, but don't make family dinner then let the child refuse to eat it and then dictate a special meal on the side. ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ - When it comes to food, it is especially true that kids learn by example and carry that with them in to adulthood. If you cook, they will cook. If you eat out or get take-out less, so will they. ๐ด ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐ learning some cooking at a young age led to healthier food choices later in life. ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ธ - Saying things to yourself like, "Ugh I'm so fat, I need to go on a diet" or "I look gross in this bikini" can immediately lead to your child checking themselves in the mirror and your language can become their language. ๐ด๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ parents encouraging their children to diet led to greater obesity, binging, crash dieting, and lower body satisfaction later in life. ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ - Do things as a family like riding bikes or going for walks after dinner. Reserve your exercise times as well and make sure it is non-negotiable. Kids will see that and recognize the importance and carry that with them for life. ๐๐ป ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ - Do NOT mention weight and definitely do not tell your child they need to go on a diet. Be active as a family. Praise healthy choices and don't nag over not-so-healthy ones. Encourage healthy options and make sure they are readily available. It's still ok to have treats, just like its ok sometimes for you. You don't want them to become forbidden fruit, just make sure treats remain as treats and not the norm. ๐จโ๐จโ๐ฆโ๐ฆ Kids are small people, so just like with us there is no magic solution to weight loss. It is up to parents to instill healthy habits and healthy mindsets about food and exercise that will set them up for their best health later in life. ๐ช *This is my amazing alumni client and mom, Stephanie, doing her workout at home: pushups with her daughter on her back! <3
