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Pick up a newspaper or magazine, turn on the radio or television and you hear two words over and over again…childhood obesity. The words hit me every time. These two words paired together seem so unlikely of partners, so unnatural – childhood obesity. How can it be?
We’d have to go back a few decades to reveal why this has happened. Much has been debated, but most experts agree that things such as technology, lack of family meal times, and a change in our society that dictates quickness and convenience are all to blame.
When I think about the situation in this country, it makes me sad and angry. How could we, The United States of American, let this happen to our most prized and cherished Citizens. After all, they are our future. What’s to happen when they are too sick to lead or worse case scenario, dead? Who will be the leaders of tomorrow? How can we let down an entire generation?
Collectively, our failings as adults have created this crisis. Never before have we had a generation where the children are not expected to out live their parents. We did this. We all did this. Who’s we? Adults from coast to coast. The parents who serve fastfood dinners. Parents who serve junk food lunches. Parents who think breakfast consist of sugary cereals and donuts. The grandparents who “spoil” grandchildren with sugary, food dye-laden so-called treats are to blame. The families who pass down poor eating habits generation after generation are to blame. The food giants are to blame for marketing unhealthy food to very impressionable audiences. Lobbyists are to blame. We are all to blame.
Until we all take responsibility for our actions, even if we are not one of the above mentioned, nothing will change. I fear I will not see a solution to this problem in my lifetime at the rate we’re going. Sure, we hear a lot of talking about it but action is lacking. It’s all lip service.
So, how do we solve this ever growing, deadly problem in our country? I believe we need to target younger children to get this problem solved. Once children are in school, it is often too late. Their eating habits are already developed, ingrained if you will.
To really get to the problem at its core, we need to start young, very young. Before conception, women need to eat sensible, healthy diets. While pregnant, women need to remember they are nourishing for two not eating for two, there’s a difference. Women also need to nurse their babies to provide the best, most nutrient rich food source available to babies. Studies have shown great evidence to support nursing benefits for weight health for both the mother and the baby. While nursing, women need to eat as if they are pregnant, since it all passes through breast milk. These small, early steps would have a huge impact and chip away at the childhood obesity epidemic in this country.
We then need to keep up the momentum up once children are old enough for solid foods. At that time they need to have a variety of healthy, nutritious foods each and every day. It is not time to give “treats” on a daily basis rather save those for truly a special occasions, such as a birthday or big family gathering once a year.
The food for this age group should not be so-called “kid food” A.K.A. convenience foods, as they are often fed rather a good variety of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy and plenty of water to drink. A foundation for a lifelong healthy body starts young; the building blocks are established to build upon day after day, week after week, year after year.
I guess I don’t understand why a parent would not want to provide his/her child with the best in life if they are able to do so? There is nothing greater to give your child than the gift of health through providing him/her with a balanced, healthy diet and being a good example. They are the ones who choose how much to eat; we are the ones who choose what they are offered to eat. It takes no more time and energy, but it does require thought and active parenting.
Once we have these young, healthy eaters well into toddlerhood, then I believe they will be on their way to healthy eating the rest of their lives as long as parents are actively engaged in their child’s diet each and every day. Just as parents should be with their own diets. Nothing is more profoundly important than showing by example through modeling behavior for children. Do not say to them, “do as I say, not as I do.” It sends mixed messages and is confusing to children. It is about showing them good behaviors early on before bad habits develop, that is when it will become their norm that they will take with them the rest of their lives.
Next week I plan to continue this discussion as I delve more into pre-schoolers and the need to overhaul their menus at daycare and preschool centers as a way to help the childhood obesity epidemic in this country. With three-fourths of children 2 to 5 years old in childcare for at least part of their day, this impacts a huge group of children.
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