Childhood obesity is becoming an increasing concern amongst parents and pediatricians. As children engage in more sedentary activities, the ratio of activity to calories consumed widens and weight gain and unhealthy eating habits creep in to daily routines. Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, the Army Surgeon General and the commanding general for the Army Medical Command, encourages children to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, a sentiment that is reinforced in the Army's Performance Triad program and echoed by Madigan Army Medical Center pediatricians and care providers.
To supplement daily activity, Capt. Bonnie De Leon, a registered dietitian with the Madigan Nutrition Care Department, encourages parents to become good role models for their children.
"Healthy eating habits in children starts with parent behaviors," said De Leon. "Children might not take you seriously if you tell them to eat healthy foods while you are sitting on the couch eating a cheeseburger. Positive role modeling helps to reinforce behaviors, even when it comes to something like which foods are good for your body."
In addition to making healthy food choices, De Leon also suggests that parents initiate fun activities to teach their children about food.
"Growing a vegetable garden with your kids is a fun way to engage them," she said. Not only will gardening add to their daily activity count, but the conversation about how vegetables grow can extend to the kitchen during meal preparation and even into the shopping trip to the grocery store.
For some parents, the question may not be about how to model positive eating behaviors, but rather, what constitutes healthy eating, particularly during the toddler and early elementary years.
"Parents can get all the right foods and have their children excited about eating healthy," said De Leon. "But, if portions are too large, it could defeat the purpose."
To gauge appropriate portion sizes for children, De Leon suggests using the "Rule of Thumb" -- the size of the child's thumb is about equal to a suitable serving size for the child's age.
Babies also don't need whole milk after the age of two, according to De Leon. By then, toddlers don't need fat supplements, and too much dairy intake could lead to iron deficiency. Additionally, while whole milk is an excellent source of Vitamin D, milk byproducts, like cheese and yogurt, are not.
"There are a lot of myths and facts about childhood nutrition, and deciphering between the two can be overwhelming sometimes," said De Leon. Fortunately for Madigan patients, registered dietitians are available for consultation without requiring a referral from a primary care provider.
Social Sharing