Registered Nurses´ Association of Ontario
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Discussion Points-Resource tool
Healthy Weight for Kids
1. Questions to ask Parents
- Do you have regular planned meals and snacks on most days?
- Does your family eat meals together regularly?
- Does your child drink more than 4-6 oz of juice each day?
- How many times per week does your child drink sweetened drinks such as soda and fruit drinks?
- How many hours each day does your child watch television and or play video games?
- Do you give your child certain foods as a reward or restrict foods as a punishment?
- How do you feel about your child’s weight?
- Are you familiar with the food guide pyramid and approximate serving size and amount of servings your child needs from each group?
2. Risk Factors for Childhood Overweight
- Weight of biological mother
- Children with two obese parents
- Parenting style (high degree of control leads to problems)
- Amount of TV watching
- Skipping meals
- Poor eating habits (eating while watching TV, excessive juice or soda)
- Inactive lifestyles
3. Parents and children each have a role in developing a healthy feeding relationship!
Parents
- Plan for positives – expect success
- Prepare and put food on the table
- Provide support as your child develops eating habits
Child
- Choose to eat
- Choose what to eat from food that is offered
- Choose how much to eat
Children can regulate their own calorie intake. Help parents let children regulate naturally by allowing children to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. Parents need to offer a variety of healthful foods at regular meal and snack times, avoid “food handouts,” and try not to reward or punish with certain foods.
Source: American Dietetic Association Foundation, Chicago, Illinois. Reproduced with permission.
