Is your child's school lunch healthy enough?

It is mid September and many children have started going to school already.  Breakfast is said to be one of the most important meals of the day, but along with breakfast there is also lunch.  I personally believe for young kids going to school, lunch is actually one of their most important meals.  Lunch needs to be a good meal because that is what helps the child focus on the later half of the day which we all know is usually the most dreadful because everyone is waiting for the school day to end already. If you take a look at the school cafeteria, there has been many changes made to it within the last 15 years.  There are more vending machines and unhealthy choices for food.  Do you think schools should be allowed to have vending machines where junk food and soda is sold?

To start preventing childhood obesity, monitoring what your child eats at school is very important.  As a parent/guardian, you should start giving healthy options to your kids for school lunch.  For example if it is something such as a sandwich, make sure you start putting healthy ingredients such as low fat cheese.  Also, no child likes eating healthy food, but one has to make it appealing so that the child actually eats it and doesn't waste money on something like a vending machine.  Another thing is, try getting the kids involved in extra curriculum physical activities at school. At least with more physical activities involved, more calories the children can burn.

 

Resources:
http://bmedia.fooducate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/StudentVendingMachine.jpeg

Causes and Prevention of Childhood Obesity

What are certain things that lead to childhood obesity?  What are certain ways that can help prevent Childhood Obesity.

        There are many things that can lead to childhood obesity.  Once again I know I mentioned this in the last blog, but many things can lead to cause of childhood obesity.  The main area of focus which lead to this disease are Genetic factors, Dietary habits, physical inactivity, and Socioeconomic status.  Out of these there are some changeable topics and there are some which are non-changeable.
        One thing that is not changeable is if one has parents that are both obese and it is more like a genetic disorder.  If that is the case then it is the genetic factors playing a role for the obesity.  The dietary habits have to be majorly changed by gearing shifts towards healthy food options for young kids.  The junk food that the children are always crying for is usually very high in calories and sugar which are both bad for your body.

       Another thing is they need to make a schedule as to when they should eat around so that different meals do not clash one and another.  Parents should also be aware while eating dinner and any meal, children should not be eating while watching TV.  It is said to be true that when a person is not paying attention to his/her food because of another distraction going on.  This way the person eats peacefully and with no distraction they will know their limit to food.
       Along with that there is also physical activity which much be maintained especially if you think that your child has childhood obesity problem.  Making the child more active in everyday curricular activities because the child will be in the moment of being active.  Having children lay around the TV all the time is no way close to performing a physical activity.  Another cause that can lead to childhood obesity, but which can be altered is where majority of the parents are always busy and don't have enough time to keep their child physically active.
       A non changeable cause of childhood obesity is because of the socioeconomic status.  Many people out there have low incomes and are not able to feed their family in a healthy manner.  All of that can lead the cause of childhood obesity.  So many people don't have enough money to feed their families and therefore it is said that those families have high intake of calories because of the poor eating choices.

Resources:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/obesity_in_children/page2_em.htm#childhood_obesity_causes
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGoIAfZGAXVd6D9hWnu1M5JLVCgxe0juR5zE2aW9JyDQDtcyRZk4v8yApohQ
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDmiCSx1Sy7kdVh_NSK1yfGA8Bxz1Lx-WjlifaEc0Iqf4ABI92h4LJgnnsb8aLT0HZIHGU__dskss2jva_6Qv6-hbF8pSswCKcGNZ6TLbmNCrJGQxfBiqk0xRMVgeE6HO1lNzAWekx0-g/s1600/Childhood-Obesity-XXL.022.jpg

  What is childhood obesity?
         Childhood obesity is a growing concern worldwide and more and more cases are being reported each year.  Childhood obesity is an increase in body weight due excessive amount of fat accumulation which affects a child's health in a negative manner.  Many children are facing this problem and this is leading to the younger children suffering diseases that would normally be seen in adults.

Causes of childhood obesity?
         Many reasons can lead to childhood obesity, and one of the main reasons being parents.  It is the parents that are looked upon when it comes to what to eat and what kind of habits to learn.  At such an young age, the child cannot make the best choices. The parents have to think ahead of the future and make the right choices for their children in regards to eating habits, exercising habits, and how their social life is being spent.  Not only are the parents responsible for childhood obesity, but also places such as schools need to make changes to their lunch menus so that childhood obesity can start decreasing.

Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/basics.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/DS00698

http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq055qRQTgTHmFpryTMccZEYR0C4-FDlwXr__QLl3cPSc6IyuXdzyGD2-e22kMi2te8_XuwvuIqra51yJnujEWfU6-MhNPBIYENjkeZt3OFDZY3Xp3nQ1f5Z9RpMG1flhQB5PYQsRQKg/s1600/obesity-cycle.jpg
http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/medical-complications-obesity.gif