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2009 November |

LIVE - Healthy Tips for Preventing Obesity and Diabetes in Children

Healthy Tips for Preventing Obesity and Diabetes in Children

~From the American Heart Association~

From an early age, begin to establish with your child that 5 -6 glasses of water a day is a healthy and good habit. Do not drink more then 4 – 6 oz. of 100% fruit juice a day.

Allow your child to develop the ability of knowing when they are full. Forcing them to “clean their plate” will confuse this process. Teach them to eat slowly, savor, and listen for signals from their body that let them know they are full.

Offer your child nutrient dense food choices. Some examples would be: organic, seasonal fruits, organic, seasonal vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins such as organic chicken and turkey.

Limit or avoid highly processed and packaged foods such as candy bars, cookies, and sodas.

Limit or avoid fast, fried, and fatty foods. Instead of going through the drive through, make turkey burgers and sweet potato fries at home.

Exercise with your child daily – take the dog for a walk, go for a swim, or include them in your yoga routine.

Teach by example – one of the greatest lessons you can teach your child is that you love yourself enough to take care of your health. This will be a lasting lesson that will be passed to your child and they will carry through out their lives.

Rebecca Brenner is a nutritionist, writer, and local cooking show host living in Park City, Utah. For more DIY and local-inspired meals visit her blog – www.playfulnoshings.blogspot.com and her website – www.parkcityholistichealth.com