What Parents Can Do to Keep Kids From Snacking Their Way to Obesity

Moderation, SELF-CONTROL, and balance are not innate traits. Nor do we just "grow" or "mature" into healthy eating habits. All of this must be learned, which means they must be taught.

In fact, it's just the opposite. We are still "hard wired" to over-consume, store and hang on to those stores - a "left over" survival system that once spared us from extinction. And our bodies still resists weight loss... no matter how necessary or beneficial it is. We haven't been able to "cure" obesity in adults, so we likely will not be able to "cure" it any easier in children. It is CRUCIAL that we prevent it by intervening during the preschool years, when the foundation of future eating habits and food preferences are set. Snacking is a huge contributor not only of excessive calories that contribute to weight gain, but also to unhealthy food preferences and intake patterns that carry on throughout adolescents and even into adulthood.

So, with 2/3rds of our adult population overweight or obese themselves, how can we expect parents to "teach" their children moderation and self-control if they haven't learned it themselves? The fact is, parents and caregivers need innovative tools and solutions to help create a healthy home food environment suitable to foster long lasting healthy habits for the entire family.

Snacking is a great place to begin building such a healthy home food environment. And it's not that difficult if you have the right tools and solutions.

Deirdre Pizzoferrato, RD

Beanstalk Express

"The SnackTime Survival Kit"

www.beanstalkexpress.com

Deirdre Pizzoferrato of CT 4:56PM March 03, 2010