Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens%E2%80%A8

Passive media consumption, fast food, larger portion sizes, and a decrease in home-cooked meals have all contributed to childhood obesity, a problem that can cause serious health issues later in life. Shield and Mullen, the dietitian mothers responsible for The American Dietetic Association Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids, have crafted a comprehensive guide for parents to identify the causes of obesity in children, change the habits that lead to poor dietary choices, and put their families on a healthier path. They make suggestions for how to increase children's activity levels, get more fruits and vegetables in their diets, understand portion sizes, and how to negotiate with picky eaters. They also offer valuable advice about how to help children overcome food advertising and decouple the relationship between food and self-esteem. Finally, they try to make healthier eating easier by providing planned menus and recipes. This is not to say that all of their suggestions are efficacious%E2%80%94they acknowledge that busier lifestyles lead to less home-cooked meals, but fail to offer corrective advice beyond cutting down on time spent cooking. Regardless, the guide is very useful and above all provides a solid basis for communicating with your children about changing their eating habits. %C2%A0(Jan.)