Kid Friendly Low-Fat

Most parents these days struggle with their busy lifestyles trying to balance raising their children and hectic work schedules, this often leads to too many fast food dinners and high sugar treats that are not good for your children either now or in the future.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem not just in the United States, but other countries as well and even if your child is not overweight those high fat, high sugar foods may be setting the stage for future serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and adult weight problems. In addition, all those trans fats, saturated fats, and sugars may actually be affecting your child's ability to perform well in school, get adequate rest and decreasing their energy and stamina.

A 2006 study done in California revealed that children between the age of 9 and 15 who placed on a low fat diet and encouraged to exercise show a healthy reduction in cholesterol and insulin levels. This study was conducted after discovering that children in their late teen already were beginning to show plaque buildup in their arteries. Plaque buildup leads to heart disease, heart attack and early death.

It has also been noted that children who are overweight tend to suffer from lower self-esteem, and may be more likely to be bullied. Studies also suggest that poor eating habits acquired in childhood are likely to continue into adulthood and are difficult to break.

As parents, you want the best for your children both now and as they grow to adulthood. Starting them on a healthy lifestyle now can not only help them to perform better in school, have positive self esteem, and enjoy a wider range of activities, but can also help them grow up to be healthier adults who remain healthy throughout their lives. Preparing kid friendly, low fat and low sugar meals and snacks for your children can not only benefit them now and in the future, but can make your entire family healthier as well.

It isn't too late to begin to make simple changes that can make a huge difference in your child's and your family’s health. Don't try to make all the changes at once, start small by introducing more fruits and vegetables into daily meals and snacks. Avoid deep frying and go for roasting, steaming and baking instead. Substitute those high sugar cereals for mixed grains and use the natural sweetness of berries instead of refined sugar.

You can look for some incredibly low fat low sugar recipes and start introducing these recipes into your meal plan once a week, then twice a week and so on. Encourage your child to shop with you and choose fresh vegetables and fruits they would like to try as children are more likely to eat food they choose themselves.

When you begin to introduce healthy food choices slowly, you may be surprised how easy it is to prepare healthy meals for your family and how much your children really enjoy these foods. There is no better feeling a parent can experience than knowing that they are making a difference in their children's lives, and teaching your child to eat healthier will make a difference for a lifetime.