Plans to Help Your Child Lose Weight

By Jeanne Simmons

Helping your child lose weight can be a difficult task. The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a power struggle with your child over what he or she does or does not eat. How you help your child trim down will depend on many factors.

A first consideration will be your child's age. A very young child may not be aware that he or she is too heavy. You will want to have healthy lower calorie snacks available for the younger child. Check your own behavior. Are you giving the child overly large portions or using food as a substitute for other positive attention? When your children is overweight you will want to use other ways to reward his or her good behavior. Do not make food a reward. A child who is old enough to know he or she is overweight will usually want to lose weight. It is important to asses their motivation and if it's appropriate, to offer your help. However, you will want to avoid being pushy or demanding with your child and be sure to let your child know you love them whether they are overweight or not. Offer to help with their weight loss because it is something they want and will make them healthier and perhaps happier.

You can help your child lose weight by keeping healthy low calorie high nutrition snacks available. Eliminate desert from the evening meal or change desert to low fat, low sugar items. Fruit or yogurt or low calorie Jello are good examples. Make sure your child starts the day with a good breakfast containing some protein and minimal fat and sugar. Good ideas for breakfast include whole grain toast with low sugar jelly or peanut butter, fruit salad, oatmeal with fresh berries, apples with peanut butter dip or a small omelet with ham and cheese.

Increasing your child's activity will help them lose weight as well. Many children love joining local team sports. Baseball, softball, soccer and football are good examples. Another option for exercise is letting your child choose lessons for tennis, horseback riding, golf, ice skating or dance. Finally, if money is no object and your child likes the idea consider finding him or her a personal trainer to get started on physical fitness program.

Remember that whatever you do to help your child lose weight you should not ignore your child's feelings and response to your help. Don't forget that serving as a healthy roll model can go a long way in helping your child develop good habits.

Jeanne Simmons is a Nurse Practitioner and Weight Control Therapist with many years experience. Visit her blog [http://stripthatfatblog.info/] and read about the one plan she recommends which will be the last plan you'll every need.

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