As your daughter gets older, she may start worrying about her weight. Although you may think she's perfect just the way she is, encourage her to maintain healthy eating and exercise habits. By making small changes in the way your family eats and spends time together, you can raise a confident, healthy daughter who values the importance of good eating and exercise. Talk to your doctor before making changes to your child's eating and exercise routine.
Teach About Fad Diets
Fad diets are unhealthy weight-loss methods that usually involve eating the same low-calorie foods over and over again in order to lose weight. The grapefruit diet is a popular fad diet made famous online.
Fad diets may help your daughter lose weight quickly, but they may also cause long-term health problems like anemia or osteoporosis. Fad diets are not sustainable ways to lose weight, and once your child returns to her regular diet, she will gain the weight right back again. Encourage your teen to stick with healthy eating habits to help her lose weight and keep it off.
Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
Your daughter should not feel deprived, starved or frustrated while she's following a healthy eating plan. Instead of eliminating all of her favorite junk foods, encourage her to eat in moderation and make substitutions.
Eat as many meals as possible at home as a family, cook with olive oil instead of butter and use low-fat dairy products instead of whole milk and cheese. Limit red meat and eat turkey, fish and chicken instead. Add lots of fruit and vegetables to fill your child up without packing on the calories.
Exercise as a Family
Instead of forcing your daughter to go to the gym by herself, make exercising a family activity. Rather than sitting on the couch and watching TV before dinner, go outside and get active. Enjoy spending time together as a family while you play catch or tennis or go running together.
Your child should get about 60 minutes of exercise every single day. Encourage her to go jogging with her friends after school so they can stay active and keep each other motivated.
Stay Positive
Don't berate or fault your child if she slips up on her new diet or exercise plan. If you're not there to support her, she may feel discouraged and quit her routine altogether. By changing the way your entire family eats and exercises, your daughter will feel supported, even if she has a bad day. Make it clear that you will love your child whether or not she loses weight.
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