A Tough Love approach to Health and Fitness

Explain the difference between health food choices and non-healthy food choices. Sit down and compile a weekly grocery lists with your child. Let them go with you to the grocery store and shop only for the foods on the list. Get kids involved in preparing healthy meals, so they adopt healthy habits for life. It's normal to shelter our kids from ridicule. However if your child is obese their health is at risk and tough love encouragement is needed, for example: "honey, you are overweight, but I believe in you and I'll support you because I love you." Never use food as a reward. Instead reward them with mini-golfing or baseball. Ditch the clean-plate policy. If your child is full, don't force them to finish. Institute an open policy about food. Kids should be comfortable telling you when they're hungry and not hungry without fear you'll get mad. Don't eliminate snacks. It will lead to lying and binge eating outside the home. Instead plan a cheat meal once a week when they're allowed any foods they want. Encourage physical activity. It will get them up and out and encourage them to socialize with other active kids. Never allow eating in front of the TV. This encourages passive eating, and the child won't concentrate on how much they're eating or when they're full. Limit TV or video games to 1 hour per day. The rest of the time, keep them busy with outdoor activities.