Its everywhere these days! Huge signs and repetitive commercials that tout the merits of being a healthy person and how we can achieve that goal:

"Eat healthy, read the labels, no sugar, no fatty foods, organic, organic, organic!"

It's a constant reminder that we are all overweight, unhealthy and not eating right. But how can that be? How, when we are surrounded by so much information of what we should be eating and whats good for us, can we still be so overweight? It doesn't make sense...or does it?

For some reason, we, as a society, have become obsessed with food, and not in a way that is even enjoyable. I wouldn't mind being obsessed by food if I could eat it and savor it without feeling guilty that it is has over 5 grams of fat in it, or that it is drowning in Hollandaise sauce.

But enjoying food is scarce these days because we are so concerned about whats in it, how it was prepared and if it will make us fatter than we already are.

So in our quest to become healthier eaters, we have forgotten the most basic and practical key to eating healthy, living well, and enjoying one of our most pleasurable activities;

MODERATION! That is the Key.

All food is alright to eat. We can eat everything and be healthy. We just can't be eating the same thing all the time and it HAS to be balanced with activity.

Children today are fat. They are overweight, they are begging for more, more, more and they can't stop eating. Why is that? Where did we go wrong?

First of all, technology has a lot to do with it. Inactivity is probably the largest culprit in the obesity of our children. But who is responsible for the lack of exercise in our children? Technology is a part of it, but, and this is going to hurt, it's the parents who are letting the children be inactive, so its a parenting problem as well.

The ideology of parents in this day and age is to let children make their own decisions. And with this kind of idea, they think that pushing their children into extracurricular activities against their will is mean. Parents have given up their command posts and have been taken over by snivelling, whiney children who demand and get whatever they want.

Now here is where things may get a little dicey and I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of angry parents slinging dirt at me, but it has to be said and we need to take responsibility for once in our lives and in the lives of our children. So here goes...

The number one reason why our children are overweight is because we, as parents, have become lazy and forgotten what it is to parent properly.

There, I said it! It is the only reason that makes sense in my opinion, and I will tell you why.

1. We are busy, busy, busy all the time. Too busy to make decent meals, so we go buy quick meals at the store. This would not be so bad if it were in moderation (two times a week, for example, instead of five).

2. We don't prepare ahead of time for meals because we're too busy, so while we are getting supper ready, we leave our kids in front of the TV or computer to keep them occupied. This, too, is no big deal as long as we turn it off while eating, and don't allow it back on after supper. But we don't. We get into the habit of leaving TV on all the time and our kids are suffering from it.

3. We want our kids to play outside after meals, but they don't want to and its easier to give in than to fight with them, so we let them play video games until bedtime. Again, every now and then, not a problem to let children play video games, but within a certain limit.

4. Our children whine for cookies, chips and candy at unreasonable times and we are unable to battle the high-pitched cries that accompany the demand, so we throw them the bag as long as they are quiet.

5. Our children may feel substandard if they are not as good a player as their teammates at sports, so we don't make them try so as not to embarrass them, and consequentially we effectively rob them of motivation, self-esteem and a sense of pride, not to mention, exercise.

6. Every parent around the world is afraid of kidnappers (with reason), so each child is furnished with a cell phone and a personal chauffeur to wherever they wish to go. Walking has become a thing of the past.

7. Our children only like Kraft Dinner and chicken fingers so thats what we serve them every night so as not to rock the boat and have a screaming child at the table.

But all the scenarios I have outlined above are reversible. We can turn it around and I have a solution. It is a lifestyle change that can improve your health and that of your child so listen up! 

 The issues our children are having with weight have a lot to do with the way we are parenting them, or the lack of parenting we are doing so we can easily make progress in the right direction by considering the following ideas.

1. Your child will eat when she is hungry so do not give in. Make her eat what you're eating, or she doesn't eat at all. Trust me, she will not starve and it will not make her have an eating disorder.

Of course you have to be reasonable. Don't expect your 5 year old to eat squash and avocado salad, or something with a taste that needs to be acquired. Keep it simple.

For example, make chicken fingers and Kraft Dinner if you want, but include cucumbers and carrots and give her no choice but to eat the vegetables as well. And you can always choose a whole grain Kraft Dinner and Presiden't Choice Blue Menu chicken fingers. They are still good, but healthier.

2. Because childrens tastebuds are running on overdrive and their tastes are very sensitive, don't insist that your child eat broccoli or cauliflower. If you think back to your childhood, you probably didn't like those two vegetables either, so don't force it on your own child. Rest assured that she will eventually grow to enjoy broccoli at some point just as you do, so be patient while she is developping her senses.

Instead, offer carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes at meals. These vegetables are milder in taste and most children adore them, so stick with what works. And don't underestimate the nutritive value of fruit. If your child is eating a lot of fruit, then good. Don't pull a fit if she refuses a vegetable every now and then.

3. Let your kids have dessert after supper. It doesn't have to be fancy. A cookie, pudding, freezie, ice cream, yogurt, etc. If they have eaten well and are asking for dessert, give it to them. It is a pleasure to have a dessert after supper and a well-deserved treat after a long day. Moreover, if you try to deny sweets and desserts to your children, you will only succeed in making them try harder to get it. And no matter if you are a strict parent who enforces this 'no-sweets' policy, your child will still find a way to get them and then it WILL turn into an eating disorder.

Denying dessert to your children is unhealthy and will foster unhealthy habits in the future. Moderation is the key here. Sugar is not bad in moderation. It is a pleasure to savor sweets and something to be enjoyed, and I can't say this enough, in moderation.

In fact, sugar has been proven to be effective at releasing endorphins that can inhibit pain in infants during screening tests and vaccinations. And we all know what a bar of chocolate can do for a Mommy suffering the symptoms of PMS, right? So how can we say that sugar is bad? We can't.

4. You have to enforce extra-curricular activities. It is absolutely imperative. If your child is not competitive, find a different activity for him or her. Perhaps downhill skiing, dance, running, or karate, or anything that is independent of competition but that still encourages activity and exercise.

Remember that your child will almost certainly balk at having to do anything they don't feel like doing, but that they will almost always enjoy it after they get there. They are a lot like adults.

For example, I sometimes lack the motivation to get out and do my workout routine because sitting in front of my computer, writing, is what I'd much rather do, but I always feel great and satisfied after I get my exercise in. It's a question of motivation, not that your child dislikes the activity. Keep that in mind.

5. After supper routines should not include TV or video games. If weather permits, get them outside to run off some steam and tire them out for bed. Go for a walk with them, even if its just around the block. If its raining, (or snowing in my case), play games inside. Get your kids going in a game of hide and seek while you clean up, or better yet, get the kids involved in clean-up. Sometimes it takes longer when they are helping, but the benefits are that they are learning responsibility and are not just sitting on their butts staring at The Magic School Bus.

6. Be a role model for your children. Be active, eat properly and moderately and stay positive as much as possible. I know its difficult and that we can't always be perfect, but that is exactly what this article is about. Be moderate with all that you do. Don't go overboard in any one direction because you will only sabotage your desired goals.

Moderation has always been the Key, we just became obsessed and forgot what really mattered. We can't all look like Heidi Klum. We may even stay a little plump by taking the Moderation Route, but at least we'll be healthy.

Our children are the future and we want to give them more than a legacy of obesity and laziness and it all starts with us; the Parents. We have the tools to get our children healthy and active and vibrant. And all it takes is that we start to parent again. Properly.  Initially it may be really hard to get your kids going on the path to health, but if you persevere, the end result is that life will get easier, which in turn makes kids happier, which in turn, makes Mommy and Daddy happy.