Doctors and nutritionists agree that parents should not think in terms of adult diets when it comes to helping their overweight children. Instead, parents should consider overall food and lifestyle changes that emphasize healthier behavior. Rather than counting calories and limiting food, offer more nutritious meals and snacks. The most effective diets for kids are those that get the whole family involved.
Hospital and Clinic Diets
The American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children website says it might be worth enrolling children who are at least 30 to 40 percent overweight in a community hospital or specialized clinic weight-loss program. For example, the Healthy KIDS Program at Winthrop University Hospital teaches children and their parents how to modify meal plans without depriving them of food choices. The program helps kids add more physical activities to their day. It also helps them cope with feelings about their weight and body image with a goal of improving self-esteem.
According to Healthy Children, these diet programs are designed for children who are in otherwise good health, and the most effective programs deal with behavioral strategies as well.
Family Diet Plan
If your child doesn't require a formal plan to manage his weight, you can take many steps as a family to help. Begin by being good role models as parents. Educate your child and yourself about the nutrition labels on packaged foods. Learn to make wiser food choices for the whole family by seeking products made with whole grains and with limited sugar and fats, especially trans fats.
Take time to eat as a family and limit stops at fast food restaurants, where menus tend to be filled with high-calorie, high-fat offerings. Stay away from fad diets. Kids Health warns there is "no quick fix when it comes to weight loss." Fad diets can make kids sick, and any weight lost usually comes back again once the child goes off the diet.
Young Child Diet
If you have a child who is age 7 or younger, Children's Hospital Boston says to avoid putting them on any kind of weight-loss diet. The key with younger children is to feed them a diet of healthy foods to help them maintain their weight while they continue to grow and develop. By all means, keep feeding your child a variety of foods. Don't try to cut out entire food groups, such as carbohydrates. In fact, EveryDiet.org, reports carbs should be the biggest part of a young child's diet. However, skip the doughnuts, candy, sugary juices and heavily processed snack foods.
Instead, load up on fruits, vegetables, crackers, whole grain breads and whole grain cereals. Protein-rich foods are important, too, but overdo it with kids. Serve eggs, milk, cheese, chicken, turkey, beef, lamb or fish in moderate amounts. Instead of potato chips, pop some popcorn or serve unsalted nuts. Instead of cookies and cake, bring out fresh fruits for dessert.
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