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News Alert Archives
Getting a Head Start on Healthy Habits!
How Parents Can Make an Impact
Overweight and obesity in children has become a major national health issue. In recognition of this, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement on the “Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity.” AAP emphasizes prevention and suggests that the best approach to preventing overweight and obesity is to take a look at both nutrition and physical activity.
Terri Verason, a registered dietitian with the National Dairy Council and mother of two, helps bring this policy statement to life by offering the following practical tips for parents.
Nourishing Family Traditions
Kick-start the day with a balanced breakfast – Include foods from at least three different food groups, such as an omelet with Cheddar cheese and diced vegetables, or cereal with milk and fresh fruit.
Snack smart – Stock the fridge with healthy, nutritious grab-and-go snacks like string cheese, portable yogurts and single-serve containers of milk.
Eat together – Family mealtime is a great time to model healthy eating behavior and to make sure your kids eat a balanced meal.
Don’t skip the milk – Recent research finds that children who included calcium from dairy foods in their diet had lower body fat than children with lower dairy calcium intakes.
Be a good role model – Children ages 8 to 17 rank mom above sports celebrities, actors and actresses and musicians as the most important influencer of their behavior. So set a good example and drink your milk, too.
Exercising Your Togetherness
Get out and play – Don’t just tell your children to go out and play – go out and play with them. Do anything – play tag, ride a bike, whatever you can think of.
Go along for the ride – Take a walk together after school or after dinner; bring the dog along. It’s also a great way to spend some time together and share your day.
Sky’s the limit – But not on time spent in front of the TV or computer. Children who watch TV for as few as 2 to 5 hours per week increase their chances of being overweight.
Party actively – Schedule birthday parties and events at parks, skating rinks and other activity-oriented places. That way, children will learn that physical activity can be a fun part of celebrations, not something to be dreaded.
You can rely on the National Dairy Council for credible,
up-to-date news on dairy nutrition research, public policies on nutritional
issues and special dairy nutrition campaigns. Please browse the
News Alert archives or use the search located above the left hand
navigation for more information. If you can't find what you are looking for or
have additional questions, please contact our Nutrition & Health News
Bureau via phone at 312-240-2880 or via e-mail at
ndc@dairyinformation.com.
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