childhood obesity

[snudgy]

ok..so heres my gripe. The news and fda and studies done here and there are stressing the fact that childhood obesity and obesity in general in the us is an epidemic now! They have replaced healthier snacks at some schools which is a step..but here it is...Did you ever notice how expensive it is to eat healthy? Organic food costs are pricey...The bread i buy is like 3.39 a loaf..my natuaral granola cereal is almost 4 bucks a bag...its crazy to go food shopping especially just buying for a family of three...peoples kids that are on welfare...basically are in a tight spot...parents are putting hawaiian punch in bottles because it may be .99 cents as compared to a 2 to 3 dollar bottle of juice...junk food snacks are cheaper and to save money thats what people are buying...the average person with an average in come thats like me is living paycheck to paycheck cant afford to be as healthly as they want...what gives...help the people out a bit...why cant they make foods that are healthy more accessible to average people...does anyone else notice this??

[Tuvok]

Wair let me help you here, eating organic is not going to make you better health wise, In Aug of 2005 i weighed almost 500 pounds, I now weigh 211 pounds, I did not have any surgery at all, As I read your post I eat very little bread and when I do it is wheat, I am a vegetarian now, I drink only water, but I do drink two glass’s of orange juice a week, all this other stuff you are giving you kids they do not need, They might want it! But they do not need it, there is a difference.

I know how high it is at the store for eating healthy? But giving them junk food now you or they will pay for it later in life by being overweight very badly with high blood pressure and/or diabetes, heart problems and a wide range of other medical problems.

At some point like other people in America you may have to make some hard choices, In order to live a healthy life style for your sake and your children sake. I hope you make the right choices soon,

[snudgy]

Indeed..thats what im saying...i buy low carb breads...certainly they are hard choices to make...only bringing 1600 a month supporting 2 children on my own and paying rent bills and food shopping..and the list goes on ...those hard choices arent so easy..my kids snacks are now consisting of carrots and dip, my daughter loves celery at 4...a little odd i think and grapes apples but of course they get their fun snacks too...but im saying not everyone can afford to make those hard choices...ther is a lot of poverty in our country and just a few towns over you see it...my thing is why cant the government or food manufacturers make it more accessible so people have more choices and better options...i understand that physical fitness is also a big part but thats another topic..do you see where im comin from??

[Chatty Kathy]

I agree with Tuvok. It is hard financially but when it comes to our kids it is important that we make sure they eat healthy and also get exercise instead of sitting around watching tv or video games, computer. All that is fun and they should still be able to do that stuff but we need to make sure it is controlled and that they are also outside playing and moving around. To help financially I would recommend cooking your own food from scratch it is less expensive and there are a lot of websites with recipes on what to make that your kids would eat that are not expensive or at least no more expensive then any type of junk food. If you look up healthy food for children - recipes you will get a long list. Just my added thoughts on the subject.

[Chatty Kathy]

Sorry for the run sentence didn't proof read.

[Viva]

And these kids get so ridiculed at school.

[Mommy of four]

The Georgia schools have removed ALL soda machines with sugar in them. Replacing them with juice drinks, diet drinks and water....

[Doxielvr]

Sorry but an obese child to me is the fault of the parent. I believe that a child should not be permitted to eat out of boredom or to be given sugar/carb laden foods that are just fillers and have no nutrition. Children are a gift and we need to train them. That means teaching them what is healthy and what is not.

[Viva]

Mommy of four wrote:

The Georgia schools have removed ALL soda machines with sugar in them. Replacing them with juice drinks, diet drinks and water....

Same in our area, but they manage to get elsewhere (or bring from home).

[Mommy of four]

Viva wrote:

<quoted text>
Same in our area, but they manage to get elsewhere (or bring from home).

This is very true. My oldest son is special needs but has graduated. They cooked in his classroom, made cookies and brownies to sell to the kids at school for their field trips. They would also make dishes for lunch for themselves, all high fat and cholesterol, too. He really gained the weight back then. Now the special needs classes have to make bran muffins but they don't seem to sell so good..

[Mommy of four]

Doxielvr wrote:

Sorry but an obese child to me is the fault of the parent. I believe that a child should not be permitted to eat out of boredom or to be given sugar/carb laden foods that are just fillers and have no nutrition. Children are a gift and we need to train them. That means teaching them what is healthy and what is not.

My kids weren't over weight until they began making their own food. They are 21, 18 and 15 so I don't cook too much anymore.

[Jumping Off Point]

Eating healthy can cost more in many ways, but it can be done inexpensively if you are careful. As recommended above it's good to make your own foods from scratch, but watch your ingrediants.

If you are concerned about carbs try to avoid the 'whites', like white rice, enriched flour, and russett potatoes. Stick with things like red potatoes, brown rice, and whoe grain breads,(Franz makes a whole grain that does not have enriched flour and is inexpensive-although it's not as tasty as the $3.00 or $4.00 bread).

Fresh fruits and veggies can cost a pretty penny, make sure to buy whats on sale, or go to a farmer's market.

Also, sometimes it's cheaper to buy in bulk, and sometimes it's not. Just because it says it's Organic does not mean it's healthier for you.

Juice contains a lot of sugar, and not a lot of nutrients. So it is sometimes not much better than soda.

[Bout time]

Back in the day...
We had recess in the morning--every day
and P.E.--every day
pretty obvious what's wrong with kids. They sit in chairs all day.

[snudgy]

Bout time wrote:

Back in the day...
We had recess in the morning--every day
and P.E.--every day
pretty obvious what's wrong with kids. They sit in chairs all day.

would you believe that the kids in my sons school sometimes has gym class in there classroom because there are too many students and cant share the gym?? One day his sp. ed teacher took AWAY his recess as punishment for a behavior...hello...i dont mind discipline but dint you think that recess a time were your child can run off excess energy would be beneficial to him??? HIs school does encourage bringing in healthy snack when celebration for parties...as opposed to cupcakes and the like...its a start

[BonJayne]

Tuvok wrote:

Wair let me help you here, eating organic is not going to make you better health wise, In Aug of 2005 i weighed almost 500 pounds, I now weigh 211 pounds, I did not have any surgery at all, As I read your post I eat very little bread and when I do it is wheat, I am a vegetarian now, I drink only water, but I do drink two glass’s of orange juice a week, all this other stuff you are giving you kids they do not need, They might want it! But they do not need it, there is a difference.
I know how high it is at the store for eating healthy? But giving them junk food now you or they will pay for it later in life by being overweight very badly with high blood pressure and/or diabetes, heart problems and a wide range of other medical problems.
At some point like other people in America you may have to make some hard choices, In order to live a healthy life style for your sake and your children sake. I hope you make the right choices soon,

Congrats on your weight loss. You have my respect for all you have done.

[Tuvok]

BonJayne wrote:

<quoted text>
Congrats on your weight loss. You have my respect for all you have done.

Thank you! A some point there is a turning point in our lifes! 3 years ago that was mine! My life turned in a different way that day.. I have a differen way of life now..

[Doxielvr]

Mommy of four wrote:

<quoted text>My kids weren't over weight until they began making their own food. They are 21, 18 and 15 so I don't cook too much anymore

21, 18 and 15 are no longer children. They can choose to be obese by over eating. It is no longer your fault. What I meant is a child who is dependent on a parent for their food should be fed healthy foods and not permitted to just eat to eat.

[go green 2]

wrong.exersize is eccential.i love soccer&ballet.i exersize a lot, but i don't eat so good,i'm thinking a little on what's better to eat:potato chips, or an apple, you guessed it i get the chips?but i'm still thin.

[Debra27]

Okay, who is obssessed with FAT? Suddenly we are drowning in posts about obesity....let's go back to talking about sex and drugs and rock and roll.

[skinny kids]

i have skinny kids because i stated early with them they are given yogurt at about 6 months and for sncks we do apples and grape my kids dont like sweets much now and they are starting their teen years. also we have them in gymnastics they statrd at 2 plus they play sports. PARENTS have to teach health