Over worked and stressed out mothers all across the world seem to be settling for convince over quality. After a grueling day at the office, its easier to pick up something from the local take away shop rather than spend the precious few hours you have left of the day too cook a wholesome meal.

Encourage the child to participate in sports and other physical activities. Physical activity is very essential for slimming. This will restrict fat formation in the body. It is essential that physical activity should be done daily and regularly.

Forcing your child into doing exercise is not a good idea, especially if he/she aren't in their teens yet. The best way of getting your child to get a healthy amount of exercise is to suggest some fun activities or hobbies. Some ideas are skateboarding, snowboarding, soccer, american football or martial arts.

Jumping Rope- is the greatest workout known to man today for a total body exercise. Jumping rope on the balls of your toes will work every muscle group in your body. It's fun once your kid gets the hang of it and can be done in doors or outside. Jumping rope can be the exercise that will burn fat long after the exercise is completed.

These leagues are great because there are usually two practices during the week and a game. So, you are looking at a total of three days of intense physical activity. Even with a not so healthy diet, if the kid can burn calories, it will go a long way to preventing childhood obesity.

Limit the amount of juice your child drinks. Juice may be fortified with some vitamins but it contains very little natural vitamins. Although I find 100% natural juice a better choice then Kool-Aid or soda pop, it is still a drink high in sugar. Most nutritionists suggest only having 1 - 2 cups of juice a day and having all other thirst quenching drinks of the day to be water.

If your child has an increased appetite, you shouldn't make the child feel bad. You can do simple tricks that will help this phase. Serve the meals and allow enough time for the child to eat. Always eat in the dining table or in your kitchen and never in the living room in front of the television. You should also not serve colas and sodas with the meal.

Cook food at home. When you eat outside, often you will be tempted to buy soda and fried foods. If you cook from home, you will use what you have, and making french fries at home is hard. Home cooked food is fresh, tastes better and it encourages familiarity in the home.

Many parents struggle to know which foods are healthy for their children. When parents did select healthy foods, 65% said they struggled to motivate their children to eat it. Instead of focusing on a diet for one child in the family, focus on improving the health of all family members by removing junk foods from the home, and preparing or purchasing meals that are low in fat and sugar.

Above all lead by example: you cannot expect your child to have good eating habits and eat healthy if you do not do this. Try to practice good eating yourself and encourage the rest of the family to do the same. Children look up to their parents and family and will follow their example.

Most people have enough common sense to know what causes individuals to be overweight. It is changing the behaviors that is the tough part. Make small changes and you will soon see a difference in the health and weight of your child.

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