![]() |
BlubberBusters Tips
from Lucy (Click here for past week's tips) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How do you eat?How can be just as important as What we eatThis tip is about how we eat at meals and snack times. Although WHAT we eat certainly affects our weight, HOW we eat can also influence weight loss or gain.
Kids who answer more questions with "c" (never) than "a" (usually) will have less difficulty losing weight. ![]() ![]() Skipping meals, especially breakfast can also backfire on weight loss efforts. One big reason is that kids find themselves feeling starved later in the day. They then overcompensate by eating big snacks and meals in the afternoon and evening, resulting in more overall calories than if they had eaten breakfast. Eating breakfast will help prevent binging later in the day, plus it helps us to better concentrate at school. Families who eat meals together at home (without the TV on), tend to have slimmer waistlines. There are exceptions to this, as when families have a habit of eating large portions or multiple servings of high calorie foods. Some kids also find that they may eat more when going out with friends to fast food restaurants or visiting them in their homes and snacking. Other kids may be more likely to have food binges when home alone. Loneliness can be an uncomfortable void that is "filled" by junk food. Reflect on your own food habits around family and friends, then decide what situations are best for you in losing weight. For example, if you find that you snack more often when alone, then find activities where you can be with others or outside the home away from the temptations of the kitchen. ![]() sitting down at the kitchen or dining room table for all meals and snacks food served on a plate or in a bowl eat with other family members at regular meal times TV, computer, electronic games, and cell phones are OFF ![]() Make a list of foods or dishes you would like to try or make. Then go to the grocery store with your parents to select these items. Try growing a few vegetables in a small garden if your family has a yard. Easy plants to grow: carrots and beans from seed packets, or tomatoes and squash from a greenhouse. In the comments box below, please share how you eat and if you think you can make any changes to improve your habits. "Blueberries and Strawberries on Waffle" Image courtesy of Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Let us know what you think of this tip. Make this a healthy week! (Click here for past week's tips) |
Please ask your
healthcare provider if these tips are right for you and please read our disclaimer.