Can childhood obesity be ascribed to ‘bad’ parenting, or is it a sign of modern times? It seems that nowadays, children are much chubbier than I can remember when Dave’s children were younger. A few years ago I had a client who came to me because her three year old child ate nothing but chips. I lay the blame entirely with her, as she had only ever fed the child a plate of chips (French fries) when they ate a meal and so the child thought this to be normal eating behaviour. In the same period of time I had another client who told me her child insisted on sweets (candies) every afternoon at 4. I asked her why she didn’t give him a piece of fruit to eat, and she told me he didn’t eat fruit. Well, here was another child, 5 years old, who had learnt bad eating behaviour. I have friends who consider it normal for their children to eat deep fried food, snack on crisps and sweets and eat pancakes as a meal. Popcorn, biscuits (cookies) and chocolate are considered meals. Coupled with this is the fact that children are in school for long hours, their playtime consists of sitting in front of a TV or computer and basically, children are leading sedentary lifestyles. Many adults I know do not exercise at all, and I constantly read about people who have weight problems. The long term health issues for overweight children is a concern. It is unhealthy, and can have a severe impact on all aspects of a person’s life. My attitude is rather now than later, and so I work at maintaining my weight. Putting on 1kg to me is not acceptable, and means watching my eating until the weight has shifted. I know that the older I get, the easier it is to put on weight, and the harder it is to lose it. Getting back to my original query about children – I know that kids are always hungry. I have watched 4 boys eat a dozen bread rolls each in a day. But I also know, that even though kids want to snack, they can snack on foods that are healthy for them – vegetables, fruit and my ever faithful hummus. Hummus can be made and left in the fridge, for kids to use as a dip for vegetables, or even to eat by the spoonful.
Do you battle with weight issues?
Hummus
Ingredients
- 1 tin chickpeas drained
- pinch of salt
- 15 mls tahini
- squeeze of lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 60 mls olive oil
Method
- Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
i battle.
my niece’s children never had the edibles without value. they are fussy however, but eat healthily (although not the variety they could) and are slender and active
It is so difficult. I just want to cry for the kids who are overweight at such a young age.
I was, and still attle
*hugs*
Hummus is one of my favourites, amazing how fast it is made, I add lots of flat parsley to it.
As children we never had any sweetened or fizzy drinks, it was tap water or tea, therefore it was really a treat when we were allowed to drink something else on the occasion of a rare restaurant visit. Snacks were either a fruit or a piece of bread with an occasional tiny bit of chocolate.
Eating between meals was a no-go, these days I see children glued to their bottles at all times. Well, times change and not always for the better.
I must try the parsley addition! We were also raised that way, and we played outside all day if the weather was good 🙂
I think parents are much to blame for bad eating habits. Fast foods are Oh so easy when both parents are working full time to do the quick bites meals. I know I’ve been guilty over the years of grabbing a pizza or a burger with chips, but I wouldn’t do it every day for every meal.
I also think schools should enforce physical education. So many of them now make it an after schools activity, which let’s face it, some children will not or cannot attend.
I was the fat sibling as a child and endured painful comments from my family and “friends”. I wasn’t obese or hugely overweight, but it was made clear to me that I didn’t look good. Today I’m the thin one in the family, and I have to say there is some poetic justice to it! 🙂 But I have to work at it.
I think we all have to work at staying slim, no matter our genetic disposition! I just think that too many people take short cuts when it comes to meals and feeding their children.
Tandy, I make our hommus in a similar way, but I use hot water to loosen the mix instead of oil. Makes it even healthier!
that is brilliant Celia, I will remember that in future 🙂
Depends on parents to teach the child to eat healthy (though my parents are still wondering what they did wrong with me :P)
Lovely hummus!
Cheers
CCU
From the sound of it, I am sure your parents have done everything right!
It’s up to parents to set the example but peer pressure, from other kids, is equally problematic.
for sure, but if most of the time kids eat well it will make a difference 🙂
I’m with you on this, it’s up to us to make sure our kids learn healthy eating habits. I think part of the problem is that people don’t know how to read food labels or understand what they mean.
I did an interesting sugar-free challenge on my blog recently and got amazing feedback from parents that saw what effect sugar has on their kids.
wow, that is a fantastic challenge! I will go and take a look. I do not eat sugar at all and I know for sure what a difference it makes. Thanks for the visit Tania 🙂
You have a good point. You really need to be strong as a parent. If Cooper doesn’t eat a meal, I try to encourage him, but if I am getting nowhere I just carry on to the next part of the meal and hope for better luck at the next meal. I don’t offer substitutes and don’t bicker about it with him. I don’t want it to become an issue. It does mean you have to keep trying foods over and over again. I hope to get there in the end and in the meantime I am pretty happy with his diet and I know it will expand as he gets older.
that is such a good attitude! Food should not become an issue ever 🙂
It’s quite scary Tandy. Let’s not mention the amount of coca cola and the like they are allowed to drink!
Don’t think I have ever made Hummus – need to rectify that.
🙂 Mandy
Sugar drinks are the worst!
Unfortunately despite doing everything that we know is right for Jess, the Insulin Resistance issues are dogging our every move.
She is such a healthy eater, fruit,veggies, whole wheat everything and yet she is still so much bigger than she should be. The weight just will not come off.
So this is a case that proves that there are some health issues which influence weight and which despite all our best efforts refuse to respond. Our only answer from the medical fraternity is to put her on diabetes medication….I am fighting this step.
I would also fight this step. Have you tried a chromium supplement for her?
Tandy I am glad you posted this as there never can be enough education regarding keeping our kids healthy and happy.
for sure!
I so agree with what you say. I too have friends with children who are hugely fussy eaters but I have to lay the blame at their door for starting and then accommodating the problem. Have to say, here in rural Spain, this is not yet an issue. Children eat the same as the adults and eat everything put in front of the,!
that is how it should be! It makes life so much easier actually 🙂
It looks great Tandy!
thanks BJB 🙂
Excellent post, if parents sorted out eating issues many kids would not need ritilin. Nice recipe for hummus, i use cumin seeds to add a bit more flavor.
I will try the cumin Usha 🙂
Nice post Tandy, if parents sort kids diets, many kids will not need retilin. Nice recipe–i always have hummus at home and i use cumin to add extra flavor. I sometimes use canned butter beans instead of chick peas & then flavor with coriander seeds and fresh coriander.
that sounds like a great alternative!
A large part of the problem is inactivity. When I was a kid, we were outside on weekends and during the summer from sun up to sun down. Sadly, most kids now do little else than watch TV and play video games. My son eats like a horse, consumes a ridiculous about of soda, but is as thin as a rail … he’s constantly moving!
it is great to hear about kids who are active! it should be the norm, not the exception 🙂
I adore hummus, Tandy, and you make its preparation sound so simple! I really must give it another go!
it is really easy to make 🙂
I love home-made hummus & I am trying different variaties at the moment with tons of flavour! Yours looks ilmpressive! Yum Yum yum!
I should experiment more with the flavours 🙂
I must try this… my wife loves it!
enjoy! and thanks for the visit 🙂
My mom always made dinner with meat, a veg and rice or potato. I’ve been very lucky to keep a stable weight until fairly recently and now I’ve got it back on track. It takes exercise and not eating too many sweets for me! I too feel so sorry for overweight kids, it is that much harder for them to learn healthy eating later in life.
I cannot imagine how difficult good eating habits must be to learn if your mother only ever feeds you junk food. Exercise is key to keeping the excess weight off 🙂
This cuts through the confusion, good, wholesome, simple flavours thanks Tandy 😀
My pleasure Merryn 🙂