ADD-ADHD-OBESITY

I often hear from clients whose children struggle with difficult behavior problems and other ailments that just make the child’s life harder than any parent would like their child’s to be. Some of the ailments they tell me about include:

• ADD
• ADHD
• Obesity

These problems, coupled with the ridicule they unfortunately bring from classmates, can all be helped-and often prevented altogether-by changing the way a child eats. From our own adult experiences, we know what an enormous difference a healthy diet makes for us; the same is true for our children.

The problem, though, is that many parents have a really hard time getting their children to follow a good, healthy diet. I’d like to offer you some tips to try that can make the food battle much simpler for both you and your child:

• Lead by example! When your kids see you eating healthy and feeling great, they learn from you that a healthy diet is important.
• Don’t talk to kids about how healthy the food you’re offering is. Instead, talk up the great taste. Sometimes just that attitude of “eat it because it’s good for you” is really off-putting. Kids automatically think, “If it’s good for me, it must taste awful!”
• Offer your child many different food items to choose from so they have an opportunity to taste many things and find healthy options that they enjoy.
• Remember, children usually like very simple foods. There’s no need to put on your chef’s hat and cook up a gourmet meal.
• Don’t make your kids eat foods they hate! The goal is to encourage your kids to eat healthy by offering foods they enjoy. Ask them to try everything, but allow them to eat only the foods they like. When kids know they won’t be made to eat what they don’t like, they’ll be much more willing to try new things.
• If you like a food, make it available to your child. Let them see you eating and enjoying it. Kids are curious creatures, and they just might decide to try it, too!
• Keep in mind that kids’ tastes change rapidly and frequently. Just because your child didn’t like something today doesn’t mean he or she won’t like it next time you offer. Just keep making foods available and keep trying.

Continue to be a great example of a healthy diet and lifestyle for your child because you are your child’s greatest teacher.