kids health

1. 61

   feeweewvposted 14 years ago

   My 6 yr old only wants to eat macaroni and mashed potatoes.  It is unhealthy for her and she is getting heavier.  I am looking for kid friendly, healthy ideas to make her life healthier.  Any Ideas?

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2. 95

   Sue Adamsposted 14 years ago

   Don't buy things that you think your child shouldn't eat. If it's not there she'll have to eat something else. Parents are responsible for children's weight.

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   1. 61

      feeweewvposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are right... I do buy healthy things.  The problem that I am running into is this...  We have had to move in with my parents after divorcing my kids father.  My parents and sister do not live the healthiest of lifestyles and I am ridiculed all the time for "driving the kids away".   Also, their father feeds them what they want.  It is hard for me to get them to change their ways.  When I set rules and make their diet more strict, other people in their lives give in and let them have what they want.  I need a place of my own, but at this point in my life, even though I am trying to achieve that goal, I am stuck here for now.

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      1. 95

         Sue Adamsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You can teach your children to decide for themselves to eat what's good for them (to a certain extend). We play games, tell stories, enact "shows" and there are many ways children can be "brainwashed" into common sense, as in the famous Poppeye cartoons for example. You can explain why superman is superman, certainly not by eating fattening foods. The trick is to immerge yourself into their world with drama, story telling and a lot of humor. You can involve the child with food preparation, constantly explaining what the goodness of a food does to you and what the bad stuff does. But always in an involved and playful fashion. I say to my kid, OK you can have ONE sweet but only ONE because otherwise you'll turn "Hyper". "What's Hyper, mum?" Then I mime a crazy overactive person and we all have a good laugh. Then the child doesn't ask for another sweet.

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         1. 61

            feeweewvposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Sue.  That is helpful.  I think, still, I have a long road ahead of me

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3. 60

   K Partinposted 14 years ago

   If the items are not in the house they won't eat them.....get her on Wii fit. Good luck.

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   1. 61

      feeweewvposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      We have a wii fit... and she is very active.  Hungry all the time though.  I'm looking for fun tasteful healthy recipies that she/they can help me with.

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      1. 60

         K Partinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well the Wii fit is a good thing, but sounds like she is working up an appetite. Depends on the age, they can burn it off so quick. Portion control helps and introduce more veggies and protein.Have them on a good multi vitamin too. Good luck.

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      2. 95

         Sue Adamsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         The reason she is so hungry all the time is possibly because her stomach has already been overstretched and demands to be filled. Try to reduce the size of portions and the frequency of meals. Children often ask for food when they are bored. You could say:"Yes we'll eat soon, but first let's finish this games of chess (or what ever). The key is to spend A LOT OF quality time and involve the child in many things so much more interesting than food.

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4. 64

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   I just let them eat whatever they want, making sure healthy food is always available.

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   1. 61

      feeweewvposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      healthy food is always available here too... the problem is, with other people in the household buying tastier unhealthy foods, they pass up the healthy foods

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      1. 95

         Sue Adamsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Teach your children to say no to bad food offered to them by other people. Explain to them why aunty so and so is so disgustingly fat.

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5. 59

   Christeneposted 14 years ago

   Set rules.
   If she is hungry the first thing to have has to be fruit of her choice.
   After that, if she is still hungry, she can have a few cookies (or whatever it is) give her a set # of them and put the package away.

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   1. 95

      Sue Adamsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I don't agree there. Simply don't have the cookies in the house. How is your own weight? We are our childrens' role models remember.

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