Planning menus is a thinning solution - Childhood Obesity

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 2002

Research identifies several causes for the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, including lack of physical activity, large portion sizes, and increased intake of sugar-sweetened soft drinks. A commonsense approach to the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity must focus on the home and school environments. These steps include setting aside time for healthy meals and physical activity, eliminating unhealthy foods--such as soft drinks and candy--from schools' vending machines, and possible taxes on fast food and soft drinks, to name a few. Moreover, soft drinks might be a possible culprit because of their ability to raise blood sugar.

Molly Pelzer, a registered dietitian for the National Dairy Council, provides some no-nonsense tips that can help children get adequate nutrition with foods they love:

* Yogurt parfaits. Make breakfast fun, quick, and easy for the kids. Let them add fresh fruit (such as blueberries, strawberries, or cut melon slices) to any flavored yogurt. Offer extra ingredients for texture such as raisins, granola, or their favorite cereal.

* Plan your menu. If your offspring dine in the school cafeteria, ask them to bring home its lunch menu so that you can decide together what foods to choose. You can't monitor them to make sure they eat all the vegetables, but you can help them to make their selections ahead of time.

* Set an example. The most-important thing parents can do to encourage their children to eat healthy is to show them! Provide healthy meal options at home, such as pastas with vegetables, lean meats, and Parmesan cheese; milk with meals; and lowfat yogurts and fruit for dessert. They are more likely to choose these foods if they see you doing so.

* Avoid nutrient-void foods in vending machines. Encourage your child to grab a single-serve of milk or yogurt in the school lunch line instead of candy and soda from a machine. Also, talk to the school administration about its regulations on the availability of sodas and candy during school lunchtime.

* Take a field trip to the grocery store. Get your kids involved in selecting healthful food choices, including fruits, vegetables, and lowfat dairy foods, by asking them to help you with the shopping. You'll find that they might be more excited about eating these foods if they have helped pick them out.