Tips to Prevent Overweight Children

1. Tips to Prevent Overweight Children • Place limits on TV, computer games, and other sedentary pursuits • Encourage physical activities - 1+ hours/day • Make physical activity a family affair – take hikes, ride bikes together, go to the park… • Plan birthdays around fun activities rather than at fast food restaurants Adapted from LLU Nutrition and Health Letter, Aug 2003

2. Tips to Prevent Overweight Children -2 • Encourage the habit of eating at meal times and limiting snacking • Avoid eating in front of the TV – it conditions people to eat when they watch TV • Eat most meals at home. Restaurants serve too much for adults let alone children • Pack lunches -- with planning they can be much healthier than what they might buy at school Adapted from LLU Nutrition and Health Letter, Aug 2003

3. Tips to Prevent Overweight Children - 3 • Provide wholesome mealsand snacks that your childenjoys while introducingnew foods • Emphasize rewards for healthy eating rather than punishment • Explain that you eat healthfully because you value good health Adapted from LLU Nutrition and Health Letter, Aug 2003