As a mother of three little girls, I worry a lot about childhood obesity. I can see that a lot of stuff we give our children is not healthy. In fact, the food we feed them encourages childhood obesity. A recent TV show brought this point home with a lot of force. It showed the life and food habits of a number of obese children, some of them morbidly overweight. Looking into their innocent angelic eyes, I felt nothing but pain for the struggles that await them.

Childhood obesity can be prevented. But it takes effort and a little conscious planning. Here’s how you can steer your children away from childhood obesity.

Tip #1: Always take your children for periodic weight checkups, so you know exactly where they stand. Many of the children I saw on that TV program did not look obese. Do not take your child’s health for granted. Besides, a regular checkup makes your child conscious of their optimal weight.

Tip #2: Avoid fast food whenever you can. In our house, weekends are a fun affair with all of us sitting together to watch a favorite movie, or play some board games. During these times, the children like to snack. Instead of chips, fries and coke, I get them healthy food wedges, like carrot sticks in yoghurt or freshly chilled fruit slices. We do not bring sodas into our house and do not stock up on ice creams and cookies. Instead, I bake healthy oatmeal cookies or make fat-free popcorn at home.

Tip #3: Avoid unhealthy cooking practices. For example, my kids love fries. But they know that it is unhealthy. So these are served only during very special occasions. At other times, we grill or steam food. We also have lots of raw veggies with our meals. For dessert, we usually have a bowl of fruit.

Tip #4: If your children are old enough, take them to the grocery store and educate them about the calorific value of food. Then ask them to select foods that are low in calories. This will make it a fun event for them, while laying a strong foundation for the future.

Tip #5: Enroll your children for activities. Keep them a little busy so they do not end up on the couch or in front of the TV all day. Play outside with them, or take a bike ride with them. The idea is to introduce them to exercises in a gentle and enjoyable manner.

Tip #6: It takes a responsible parent to bring up a responsible child. If you feel that you need to lose excess weight, check out this FREE 7-day eCourse on losing weight