Childhood obesity is an issue to deal with head on, but carefully. Factors that contribute to overweight kids range from low self-esteem to learned behaviors. Several programs have been developed to encourage healthier eating habits for youth by educating them on nutrition and exercise.
Slimkids
Slimkids is a weight control program that has formulated diet plans to assist overweight children in attaining a healthy weight. Developed by instructor Laura Kraemer R.N., CPN, this program teaches kids healthy eating and weight control. The program highlights incorporating foods from the five food groups into healthy meals, targeting a 1500 to 1800 caloric intake a day. Slimkids teaches healthy portions, not calorie counting. The program aims for daily servings to include three servings of milk, four bread servings, three fruit servings, two protein servings, four vegetable servings and three fats. A sample breakfast would be one scrambled egg, half of a grapefruit, a slice of whole wheat toast with 1 teaspoon of butter and a glass of skim milk.
Trim Kids
Trim Kids, written by Melinda Southern, is a 12-week plan that not only addresses healthy eating and nutrition, but also the behavioral issues that contribute to children becoming overweight. Ten weeks of meal plans help children get on the right track. Trim Kids also makes creative suggestions to help kids burn calories and be active without being confined to traditional exercise, such as having your child push the shopping cart in the store, dance or move around during commercials while watching television, or walking around the house while talking on the telephone. A sample meal from this program is quesadillas made with whole-wheat tortillas, low-fat cheese, nonfat butter spray, salsa and fat-free sour cream.
Anne Collins Weight Loss Program
Anne Collins is a nutritionist who developed weight-loss tips for overweight children. The goal of this weight-loss program is to help kids make a lifestyle change. It also motivates them to be more active, and helps them to eat healthily by making positive changes in meals and introducing healthy eating for the entire family instead of just the overweight child. This program sets a good example for children by encouraging regular exercise, reducing television and learning about nutrition.
Spark Teens
Spark Teens is an online resource that assists teens in learning how to develop healthy habits related to healthy and fitness. The site displays a calorie counter, meal plans, fitness program and exercise demos to help teens start developing a healthy lifestyle. The site also offers support teams for teens to interact with others trying to become healthier.
Shapedown
Shapedown was developed by the faculty members of the University of California School of Medicine. Pediatricians from specialties such as nutrition, physiology and family medicine contributed to the program's design. The goal of the program is to enhance children's self-esteem, develop healthier habits and begin to normalize their weight. It addresses underlying issues related to weight gain and teaches dietary recommendations consistent with the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances.
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