Is your child overweight? What does your child do when they come home from school? Have a snack and watch TV or play video games? Research and studies show that our children are growing more obese by the day. Many families all over North America are struggling to keep the weight of their children within reasonable limits. As a parent, I know that it's nearly impossible for me to look into the tear-filled eyes of my son and refuse food. However, the types of food and activities are the key.
So, what's the alternative? Stop buying the junk food and colas and no TV or video games after school. Children tend to plop themselves on the sofa and munch away happily when they are in front of the TV or games. However, if the TV is off, their natural buoyancy will lead them to do more activities and other things that will cause their body to move. They in turn will be diverted from eating food.
Recreational after school activities are a must if your child is starting to put on those unnecessary pounds. It is better to begin these activities at an early age and get them use to being active after school rather than sitting around. The more weight the child gains in the earlier years, the harder he or she will have to work to loose it later on, not to mention the name calling and ridiculing that overweight children must deal with. There are TONS of activities that can occur after school instead of sitting in front of the TV. Walking, hiking, raking leaves, cleaning the pool or swimming in it, baseball, football, ,martial arts, skating, walking the dog, cleaning your car, even cleaning their room. Anything can be considered an activity as long as your child is not sitting and eating. These activities can be fun and entertaining! It doesn’t need to fell like work.
If your child does require a snack after school, make sure the fridge and cupboards are filled with healthy, nutritional choices and not the high fat, sugary ones. Pop/colas should be illegal to kids under the age of sixteen. There is no reason whatsoever to provide a child with pop.
