The Best Diet Plans For Kids

The decision to help a kid lose weight is one that can impact the rest of her life. Losing weight at an early age can help her prevent obesity as an adult along with the many complications of obesity -- including diabetes, osteoarthritis and heart disease. With smaller bodies and different needs, weight loss for children is different from adults. Small subtle changes in diet can serve as effective means of weight loss for kids.

Drink Intake

One small, subtle way to reduce a kid's caloric intake is to reduce his consumption of soda, sports drinks and other high-calorie, sugary beverages -- such as fruit juices. Have your child switch from whole milk to low-fat or non-fat dairy products. Reducing calories through beverage intake is a gradual way to wean kids into healthier habits. Start by reducing on high-calorie beverage from your child's diet per day. Gradually work until he is only consuming water or low-fat milk. Reducing high calorie beverages can cut hundreds of calories from a child's diet each day.

Eat Small Meals

Instead of feeding a child three large meals a day, opt to feed her five to six small meals per day. Eating small, healthy meals all day can help prevent the urge to snack on unhealthy foods throughout the day or overindulge at meals. Prepare small, healthy snacks for your child to consume every few hours. Healthy snacks can include a piece of fruits, carrot sticks, celery sticks, yogurt or whole-grain pretzels. When it is time to eat a meal -- breakfast, lunch and dinner -- reduce portion sizes. Place your child's food on a smaller plate. Placing less food in front of a child reduces overeating.

Fruits and Vegetables

Include five servings of fruits and vegetables in your child's diet each day. Fruits and vegetables are low-calorie and part of a healthy, well-balanced diet. In addition to controlling weight, fruits and vegetables are beneficial for the heart of a child and the overall health of their entire body. Use fruit for breakfast and as snacks throughout the day. Vegetables should be served at each meal.

Avoid Fad Dieting

Fad diets are not meant for children, nor are they healthy. Avoid placing your child on a diet plan that involves drastically cutting calories. Fad diets can also include limiting foods from a certain food group or only eating foods from particular food groups. Fad diets may result in quick weight loss. However, this weight loss is almost always temporary. Children need a variety of food groups to maintain a healthy body. Diet pills should never be given to children.

Considerations

Lead by example. Eat healthy foods with your child. If your child is cutting soda from his diet, cut soda from your diet as well. Work to support your child as he loses weight. Eat the same types of foods in reduced portion sizes, just as your child is doing. In addition to diet plans, exercise should be part of your child's daily routine. The American Heart Association recommends 60 minutes of physical activity per day for children.