Your nine year old son needs to get adequate
protein, calories and other important vitamins and minerals needed
for growth and development - especially calcium and iron.
For growing
children it is often safest to maintain their current weight while
they grow in height.
Young children should not be put on restrictive
calorie diets unless under the guidance of a physician or registered
dietitian. Work with a healthcare provider to determine a healthy
weight goal for your son.
In addition, you can promote healthy eating
habits for your son by trying some of the following:
-
Don't set him apart because of his
weight. Focus on gradually changing his physical activity
and eating habits.
-
Research shows that most young children
are overweight due to their sedentary lifestyle and consumption
of super-sized portions and high-fat food choices. Get
your son involved in his meal selection and preparation.
Shop together for healthier foods.
-
Show him how to read food labels.
Teach him how to make better food choices and eat healthier
meals.
-
Turn off the TV during meal time.
Research shows that people eat more and faster when snacking
or dining in front of the TV.
-
Try to eat at home. Family members
often consume twice as many calories when dinning out
versus eating at home. Use meals as a time to spend quality
time together talking.
-
Help him find something physical he
likes to do like ride a bike, jump rope, play frisbee,
rollerblade or simply take a walk together everyday. Whatever
activity you choose it should last at least 30 minutes.
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Most importantly you can set a good example
by eating a variety of healthy foods and being physically active
yourself.