Study Shows Parental Influence on Kids’ Diets Is Getting Weak
The outside forces being referred to include friends, schools, area stores and advertisers, among others.
While parents are able to heavily influence children’s healthy eating habits there still needs to be a concerted effort outside the home. One of the positive things that happened before 2010 ended is the signing of the new legislation Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This new law aims to set nutritional standards for all food offered in schools.
Prior Obama’s signing of Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, several states have been passing memorandums that orders school districts to review their existing nutritional guidelines. In the Baltimore area, many schools have been making menu and curriculum changes. In the spring, officials will launch an advertising campaign aimed at countering ads for unhealthy foods called Get Fresh Baltimore.
The epidemic of childhood obesity is hard to ignore. It impacts the lives of our younger generation and may deprive them with better opportunities if we fail to address the issue. Parental influence should not be taken lightly when it comes to kids’ diets. It is absolutely impossible to watch the kids every minute of the day. However, teaching them the value of nutrition and encouraging them to eat nutritious meals and snacks is an important step to give them a good framework.
Impact of Fresh Healthy Eating and Learning
If you hear that fresh healthy eating equates to improved learning, would you start packing healthy lunches and snacks for your kids first thing tomorrow? With the growing cases of childhood obesity in the country, it is understandable how various sectors are rigorously lobbying for more nutritious foods for the kids. But other than ending childhood obesity, some wellness coordinators and school districts are already heavily implementing healthy feeding to its students. The reason: kids are having better behavior, enhanced school performance, and improved concentration when they eat healthy.
Of course, schooling has very high demands. Apart from having to consistently wake up early to avoid tardiness, kids are also subject to plenty of homework, projects, late-night study sessions, exams, and the list goes on. Without endurance and proper focused, it’s easier for any school kid to feel burnt out, confused, and might eventually result to dropping out for the school year.
Healthy Diets and Fresh Healthy Vending Recipes for Kids
Eating healthy impacts kids’ learning capacity. And this fact is strengthened by a recent research conducted by Tufts University and the Journal of School Health and reported by the California Department of Education, which revealed that children who are fed with healthy foods are not only more likely to attend school but are also more motivated to learn. Unfortunately, despite the proven health benefits of eating nutritious foods, many parents still find it difficult to consistently make their children consume more healthy foods on a regular basis. How then do parents deal with this matter? How do we get kids to eat more healthy foods and stop them from indulging on junk foods?
Whole Grain Pancakes
Pancakes have been an old-time favorite among children; however, the ones available in many fast food chains are laden with less nutritional value. On the hand, you can make your own healthy version of pancakes at home using whole grain flour which are already available in many grocery stores. Top them with slices of fruits, especially berries which according to several studies are high in antioxidants that are good in strengthening the immune system.
Diabetes Society Taking Money From Soft Drink Company
When American Diabetes Association (ADA) announces the multi-million dollar support it is receiving from the world’s third-largest soft drink manufacturer—Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB), not only one but several sectors have reacted about the “corrupt” alliance that has taken place between the two organizations. According to the press release that was handed out, CSAB is joining ADA in its efforts to fight obesity and diabetes in America.
“We are thrilled to have Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages join forces with the American Diabetes Association to help deliver crucial messages to consumers about healthy lifestyle changes,” said Larry Ellingson, RPh, Chairman of the Board of the American Diabetes Association. Furthermore, ADA maintained that in working together with CSAB, they will be able to bring forth the tools and solutions needed by Americans to achieve and maintain healthy weight while at the same time incorporating physical activities into their lives.
Soft Drink Health Hazards for Kids
Soft drinks can be very addicting. The sugary taste with combined coolness is tempting enough for a child or an adult to press the vending machine button or run to the nearest convenience store for a bottle of ice-cold Pepsi or Coke. Sadly, the number of health hazard soft drinks poses is often times ignored when in fact should be given utmost attention as it majorly affects the lives of children.
Health experts reveal that too much soft drink consumption leads to many bone problems such as osteoporosis, bone fractures, tooth loss, periodontal disease, and gingivitis. This is because soft drinks are believed to contain large quantities of phosphorus, which when excreted pulls calcium out of the bones. Apparently, the United States ranks first among countries in soft drink consumption, wherein 13.15 billion gallons of carbonated drinks are consumed every year.
The Secret to Better Grades Starts With a Healthy Diet for Kids
Don’t parents often wish their kids have better grades in schools? Isn’t it an exhilarating feeling for parents to hear their kid’s name being called in the honor roll list? Of course, any parent would love to bask in their children’s glory, but ensuring kids to have better grades is not just about enforcing them to keep studying and diligently doing their homework. A good behavior and better grades means having a nutritious diet for kids, too.
When nutritious foods have been introduced to the students of Appleton Central Alternative High School, the goal is clear and simple: to show that fresh, nutritious food can make a real difference in student’s behavior, learning and health. Pioneered by Natural Oven President, Dr. Barbara Reed Stitt, developed a program that offers students fresh healthy food options for breakfast and lunch.
Childhood Obesity is an Important Issue in Reducing Health Care Costs
In 2009, a government-sponsored research was publicized with some shocking findings about the relation of increased health care costs to the increased rates of obesity in less than a decade. The study was conducted by researchers at RTI International and funded by the CDC Foundation analyzed data from the 1998 and 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. It was found out that in 1998 the medical costs of obesity in the US were estimated at around 78.5 billion dollars a year, half of which was financed by Medicare and Medicaid. Furthermore, between 1998 and 2006, the prevalence of obesity in the US went up by 37 per cent.
This and the current data of obesity and health care costs are the main concerns why the new administration is pushing hard to encourage people, particularly children, to start eating healthy foods and engaging in physical activities. Congress has reauthorized the children nutrition act and other sectors are also doing their share in alleviating the growing problem by serving healthier options to people and ramping up the nutritional campaign nationwide—targeting specifically children. There is a loud clamor to stop bleeding on the issue and we cannot afford to see more children being admitted to the hospital due to serious weight-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, etc. It’s best to keep in mind that the success in the reduction of obesity cases is critical in reducing national health care costs and working together to achieve this can likewise result to a better economy in the future.
Moms and Dads Favor Thin Kids over Obese Children
How true is it that kids who are in great shape are likely to receive favorable treatment from their parents than those who are overweight? While it is already painful for any person to be bullied for their weight, it is certainly more emotionally draining when parents are the ones showing obvious disregard to their children who are bulky.
Researchers from the University of North Texas in Denton found parents are less willing to help their overweight children buy a car. Adriel Boals and Amanda Kraha, who authored the research published in the journal Obesity, surveyed 379 college students aged 17 to 26 years old of whom 30 percent were male. They found that the students who bought their own cars had a higher average body mass index than those who received assistance from their parents.
Childhood Obesity Sky Rocketing in America
It’s a no secret that childhood obesity has tripled in number in the last three decades, sending an alarming signal of epidemic in the nation. From 6.5 percent in 1980, the recorded case among children ages 6-11 soared to 19.6 percent in 2008, whereas, for those ages 12-19, the figure dived from 5 percent in 1980 to 18.1 percent in 2008. Such big leap prompted the nation to act in curbing the growth by adapting various measures that are primarily targeted at the younger generation.
Childhood obesity is a serious dilemma that needs serious attention; otherwise, we are looking at a bleak future for our children’s health and lifestyle. After all, a healthy lifestyle starts as early as childhood, and during such formative period, parents play a crucial role and influence by following a healthy lifestyle themselves.
Healthy Snacking Makes for Healthy Schools
With the start of the new school year comes the real test how students will come to appreciate the new healthy menus offered in school cafeterias. Are children about ready to embrace healthy lunches and healthier snacks while avoiding the tempting gaze of junk food vending machines? Of course, it would be good to know if schools will be carrying fresh healthy vending machines, too, to complement the changes in some of the food in their ala carte menus. But we can only hope so much and trust schools in their guided implementation of healthy food to combat obesity.
As we already know by this time, schools are seriously adapting the healthy challenge of ending childhood obesity by overhauling their menus to include healthier choices such as more milk, yogurt, and fruits and veggies—to the point of substituting some ingredients of all-time favorites with healthier mixes.