We have a real problem on our hands. Today, more and more of our children are becoming obese and those numbers continue to rise. Something needs to be done if we’re going to reverse the trend. Two critical areas of concern involve proper eating habits and adequate physical activity. There are other causes, of course, but we’ll focus our discussion on the “big” two: malnutrition and inactivity. 

Malnutrition can easily occur in a world where there’s an overabundance of food. Where there’s overconsumption of macronutrients and underconsumption of micronutrients, there’s a problem! Cheap food is calorically dense but low in nutrients and when children consume this stuff on a daily basis, it can lead to obesity and illness.

Ultimately, parents control what their children eat. Let’s face it, if you don’t buy it, they can’t eat it! Just favor foods that are wholesome and natural, and avoid as much as possible foods that are processed, packaged and refined. Sounds like a simple solution, but it’s not that easy. No matter how much you try to clean up their diet, your kids will fight you every step of the way and some will simply refuse to eat.

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, a medical doctor who created the gut and psychology syndrome (GAPS) nutritional protocol, believes that children who are “fussy eaters” are demonstrating a symptom of toxicity caused by the food they eat. They can’t help themselves. They’re trapped in a cycle of addiction and dependency, much like a drug addict. This is usually caused by starchy carbohydrates, but anything with sugar and processed carbs will contribute to the condition.

It’s very difficult to treat any addict. You must break them out of the viscous cycle. Start with one teaspoon of healthy food like homemade chicken stock, and give them a reward each time they take the food. It may be a simple smile, hug, kiss, or praise, or perhaps you let them play a video game for five minutes. When they take another spoonful, they get another reward, and so on until they finish the bowl. It requires effort and patience, but parents must take the power back into their hands if they want to help their children, and this is what it will take to do that.

If you would like to learn more about this process, read the article Doctor Goes On Record Regarding Picky Eaters by Becky Plotner.

Tomorrow we’ll examine a unique way to get children to expend more energy during the day. I think you’ll find it very interesting.