I don’t think dieting is a necessary step for most scenarios.  There are many situations where it is immediately thought of as the primary cure for obesity or other unhealthy conditions.  Here are the only two scenarios where I think it should be considered immediately.

• Extreme obesity.  When people see or know an obese person, they instantly think that that person needs to go onto a diet.  When it comes to kids, I do not think that it should be the first choice in most cases.  Exercising should be the first change for obese children.  Most obese kids simply do not get outside and exercise enough.  Sadly, many people simply implement a diet plan and assume that will work.  Well, if a kid diets but parks his rear in front of a screen all day long, then there is no point in the diet.  On the other hand, if he exercises and does not diet, he will probably lose some weight.  In cases of severe obesity, doing both is necessary.
• Any time a child needs to lose weight rapidly.  I know this sounds unhealthy, but it is necessary for some kids, primarily athletes.  I can think of two sports off the top of my head that require weight loss, wrestling and football.  Dieting is an important part of wrestling, because you need to lose weight quickly (before the season starts).  Not all football requires weight loss, but I know that many youth football leagues have weight limits, so if you want to play at a certain age level, you need to lose weight.  This is not true in all places or at all levels.

Although I wouldn’t suggest dieting for most kids, there are situations where it is necessary.  Next time, I am going to talk about how you should be dieting.

Sure, there are days you can let them indulge to their heart’s content. Of course, there should be some balance on those days with healthy snacks or making sure they eat their vegetables before letting them have at it. Halloween and Christmas are prime examples of those indulgent days.

In the meantime, you do want to limit their candy intake. There is different advice on whether not letting them have any candy is good or bad. As parents, you should decide how much they can handle on any given day. This limit may change depending on their mood and behavior. Some days, toddlers can be so wired up that candy can hurt the situation rather than help it. Some days, you might dole it out as a reward for eating all of their vegetables.

But candy is certainly one thing toddlers argue about. It is nearly impossible to dole out equal portions even if it is the same type of candy and in the same size packaging. The number one way to end an argument like this is to threaten to take it away. That usually stops any argument. But if it doesn’t, take the candy away. It is one lesson that toddlers will quickly pick up.

Avoid giving in every time your toddler asks for it. This is especially true, if they hit their limit for the day. You will likely get some kind of tantrum. However, it is important that they learn that they won’t get everything they ask for.

At the end of the day, help them brush their teeth. It is important to get all of that sugar off of their teeth before they go to bed. This will save you on the dental bills when the season of candy rolls around again.

Candy isn’t necessarily a bad thing for toddlers to have every once in awhile. But with such a long candy season, it is important to keep an eye on how much they have eaten. Yes, it is a time of year to be dreaded, but it can be managed if you establish the boundaries on candy.

Goldfish crackers are practically known as the default preschool snack. While not the most imaginative snack option, they are favored by many preschools. This is because most kids like them and they are very easy to dispense. They also aren’t too messy to clean up.

For a healthy snack option, cut up some apples, bananas, and grapes. If you have time, take the peels off of the apples. These are the most familiar fruit options for preschoolers. Avoid bringing in strange fruit like raspberries, because not all preschoolers will be familiar with the taste and are unlikely to eat it. Fruit does go bad fast, so it has to be prepared that morning.

Crackers and cheese are also an easy snack option for preschoolers. USe the standard yellow American cheese that most preschoolers are familiar with. Avoid any cheese with holes, or blue cheese. These cheeses are a little too complicated for a preschooler’s taste buds.

Graham crackers are another option. These crackers are easy to break apart into smaller pieces. Most kids are fans of graham crackers. Bring the chocolate and marshmallows for that familiar campfire feel. You don’t have to toast the marshmallows for this treat.

Cupcakes are a favorite birthday preschool snack. Cupcakes are easier to dispense than trying to cut up a cake. But you want to bring both chocolate and vanilla cupcakes to give kids a choice. Not every preschooler will be a big fan of chocolate.

Animal crackers are now available in individual packages. This is another preschool favorite for the same basic reasons as Goldfish crackers. They tend to be a little easier on the snack budget. They also fit very well into animal themed days at the Preschool.

Preschool snacks don’t have to be complicated. For preschoolers, the simple snacks are some of the best ones to eat.

Personally, I feel that America is over medicated.  It seems that everything mandates a medication or vaccine these days.  I have lived a relatively low-medication lifestyle.  I only have taken one medication regularly in my life, an allergy medication.  And that is because I cannot read when my allergies flare up due to extremely watery eyes.  The only other times I take medications are when it is prescribed by a doctor, or I am having a particularly nasty headache.  On the other hand, many people take medication willy-nilly.  To me, it almost seems to have struck the sugar pill point.  We take medication to make us think we are better, even if it has done nothing.  The placebo effect exists in everything, though, and medication is no exception.

America may be over medicated for illness and pain, but there is another aspect which I find far more stupid: vitamin supplements.  I may be a complete oddball with this statement, but I have never taken a dietary supplement.  In fact, I think they are unnecessary unless the recipient of them has an actual medical condition.  You do not need a pill to get the necessary amounts of vitamins and minerals, rather you need the appropriate diet.  This is my opinion on supplements like Pediasure, too.  In fact, the ads for that beverage simply annoy me.  “My child is picky…so instead of improving her diet, I’m just going to supplement it.”  You know what?  That teaches the kid nothing about eating healthy.  Rather, it teaches them they can just cheat their way out of eating well by supplementing.  Supplements are a waste unless you truly have a medical reason to take them.

The children of America are overmedicated.  Maybe I’m an odd duck, but I feel medication is pretty much unnecessary unless you need it to carry out an everyday action or are prescribed it.  But that’s just me.

The definition of obese is completely wrong, in my opinion.  It is based off of BMI (Body Mass Index).  This is an index based entirely off of height and weight.  This is a simple system to assess obesity, but it does not work.  For example, at 6 ft tall and 240 lbs, a human male is considered obese.  Yet a 6 ft tall male with a muscular build and larger shoulders could be six foot tall and have 10% body fat, which is completely healthy.  The scale also doesn’t account for the fact that woman naturally need greater body fat and will develop it naturally during puberty.  This results in inaccurate estimates over the number of obese children and adults.

At the same time, we are handling it all wrong.  I believe in good amounts of exercise and healthy diets.  The problem is that it is being handled wrong.  Many people take the easy option.  They merely try to improve their diet.  If you do not work out more, you will not become healthier.  In order to lose a pound of fat, one must burn off over 3000 calories that are not replaced.  So, if you merely reduce the amount consumed, you have achieved nothing.  Rather, you should work out more.  During wrestling season, I lost 18 pounds.  And this wasn’t due to diet.  In fact, I ate 3000-4000 calories a day.  Rather, I burned almost all the calories I consumed.  Working out will do more than dieting, period.  Also, please don’t just limit screen time.  Reading a book is not exercise. In fact, if  there is a major problem, such as a child spending 6-8 hours a day on a gaming system or TV, don’t play nice.  Make sure it is not an option.

The worst of it all, in my opinion, is the fast food industry’s stance.  I enjoy a nice, greasy hamburger.  In fact, after football games, I would consume as many as three dollar menu chicken sandwiches or hamburgers.  But they are ludicrously unhealthy.  Treating yourself to them is nice, but it should not become a habit.  Once it is a habit, you are on a slippery slope.

What irks me more is the way fast food restaurants, especially McDonald’s, attempt to portray themselves as healthy.  So, I visited McDonald’s website and viewed their page on how it is healthy for kids.  The page begins with, “Kids need a variety of foods and nutrients every day to help them grow strong, play long, and learn better in school. We’re constantly looking at our menu to ensure we’re giving our customers (including our youngest guests) a selection of balanced choices.”   Well…, that’s vague.  The page goes on to discuss how the food is full of vitamins and nutrients, but never covers the appalling levels of fat and calories.  So, they essentially avoid the topic.  And, just as an example, the kids menu hamburger contains 9 grams of fat, of which 3.5 are saturated.

Obesity is a dangerous health problem that threatens Americans, especially kids.   If a child is obese, don’t let them sit around, make them begin exercising and modify their diet.  When the ads for fast food claiming to be healthy come around, don’t take the easy option and go to the fast food restaurant.  Make a healthy meal and be a family.  In order to confront obesity, you must take the bull by the horns.

Knowing how your toddler is going to react to a strange place is a big part of determining whether your toddler should accompany you to that restaurant. A restaurant is a very social place and can be very noisy at times. There are lots of strange people around. If you aren’t sure whether you will get a positive reaction or negative reaction, you should do a test run. Just go down to the restaurant and walk in with your toddler. Then gauge your toddler’s reaction to the place. Also, consider how your toddler does in social situations. If there are any doubts, than you should plan to have a babysitter. It will be less stressful for you and your toddler.

If you are planning a family dinner, call ahead. You want to get their menu options for picky eaters. This way you can pack a few favorite snacks to take with you. Also, you want to try to get a table in a corner area away from the main crowds in the room and near the bathrooms. It is likely your potty-trained toddler will want to go to the bathroom more than once. It is also easier to change diapers when you are close to the bathroom.

Prepare for the adventure by making sure your toddler is not tired and cranky. Pack a few little quiet toys for them to play with. Even if the restaurant provides coloring material, have a few options ready in case of boredom. When they start getting restless while waiting on the food take them outside for a bit of exercise in the parking lot.

If they get upset by something, take them outside immediately before the screaming fit begins. Take them to the car until they are done expressing themselves. It may mean leaving dinner behind but it is better that you take them out of the situation instead of forcing them to stay in it. It will only stress you out more.

Try practicing at home. Create a game of how to behave while eating in a restaurant. Show them the acceptable behavior and what is unacceptable in a restaurant. This way they will understand what to expect when eating out.

Finally, don’t forget to reward them for their good behavior at the end of their adventure.

This is just a glimpse of how food is portrayed in American society, and we are all getting fatter because of it. Basically, Americans consume too many calories, and we don’t burn them off. This is especially true for children. Children in the United States are fatter today than at any other time in history. This sets them up for health issues in later life; in essence, they may be the first generation that does not live as long as their parents.

You can strive to make sure your child views food in a healthy manner. How?  Read on for a few important tips.

1. Eat to live, not live to eat!

I am sure you may have heard this statement before, but take the time to really think about it. Food is the fuel we need to live; it gives us the energy to do the things we love. We need to let children know that. We must move away from the idea that food is what brings joy or comfort or love to life. Sure, it’s okay to sometimes offer a piece of candy or a dinner out for a job well done, or for a birthday commemoration, but try not to give your child food to heal a hurt or to make a bad day better.

2. Fresh is best!

If you are confused about what foods are the best for your child, remember the outside aisles in a grocery store have the healthiest selections. Aim for fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, non-processed meats, bakery breads, and dairy items. Where parents get into trouble is in the middle aisles, where cookies and chips lurk. If you want to give your child the best, offer foods that have not gone through several processes before hitting your table.

3. Everything in moderation.

We all have heard about portion control. The same holds true for children. You can let your child have some sugar, just don’t allow them to eat half a bag of cookies or drink a liter of a sugary soft drink before a meal. You don’t need to ban all fried foods, but please, don’t let French fries become the only “vegetable” your child will eat.

4. Everyone can help cook.

This tactic is a sure-fire winner. If you want your child to value what he or she eats, involve him or her in the cooking process. Little ones can help make a fruit salad, and older children can prepare side dishes. It does take supervision, but in the long run, it is well worth the effort. An added bonus is that your child will be able to cook healthy meals for him or herself when it comes time to fly the nest.

Approach new food with an air of excitement rather than an air of “you must eat this.” It is crucial to set the tune before you place the strange food before your toddler. Emphasize a certain feature that they might enjoy. Usually, color is a big draw for toddlers. But you can also compare the texture of the food to something that they like touching or playing with. Squishy food can be compared to mud. Gross for parents, not so much for toddlers who have a penchant for mud pies.

Creative nicknames for strange foods can entice toddlers to eat. For example, “little trees” is an often used nickname for broccoli. Your toddler might be more open to eating “little trees” than just plain, old broccoli. You want to pick names that toddlers can relate to. Stay away from any complex or fancy sounding names. If your toddler doesn’t know what the name means, they are more likely to shy away.

Part of getting them to try strange foods is to get them to help making it. Personal involvement, even if it is a little messy, will give them an extra incentive to try it after it is done. The sense of “helping” and sense of accomplishment are great motivators in getting toddlers to try the strange food.

If possible, try to introduce the strange food at the beginning of their meal or at snack time when they are hungrier. They are more likely to try it if it is all by itself  and they are hungry. If their other favorite foods are on the plate, then they will more likely avoid it. You can always give them the stuff they like after a bite or two.

Finally, be patient. It takes time for toddlers to begin to like strange food. It won’t always be a success on the first, second or even third tries. The trick is not to turn it into a big contest of wills between you and your toddler. This is one battle you will likely wind up as the loser.

Working and breastfeeding are very hard to juggle. Even if you have the most generous job when it comes to breastfeeding, you are still going to run into potential problems. There is the need to have privacy for pumping, the problem of storage, and dealing with potential leakage. It is an additional stress load on top of the stress from work, from lack of sleep, and from all the other stresses that life throws at you. It can simply be too much and too overwhelming.

Placing your infant in daycare might not be an option. Finding a decent daycare compatible with breastfeeding infants is very difficult. They have very special requirements to meet by the state license board. The number of Daycare facilities that provide this option are few and far between. It may simply not be practical to put your baby in a daycare center that is far away from your work and home locations.

Low milk production has a big impact on your ability to breastfeed. It is nothing to be ashamed of. There could many reasons for why your body isn’t producing that much milk. Stress is certainly one of the contributing factors for low milk production. Your priority is ensuring that your infant gets what they need. Such discussions are best left between you and your doctor even if someone else thinks differently.

Having more than one child does put a strain on your milk producing capacity. While you may be able to produce enough for one child, producing for two or more is an impossible challenge. You would have to be superwoman to produce that much milk. Most people understand this but there are always a few.

Breastfeeding is not a reflection of your parenting skills. It is a very personal decision. You don’t need to feel guilty for choosing the best thing that works for you and your baby.

• First of all, the size of the party is possibly the most important factor.  When people say party, they tend to think of a group of ten plus people partying.  For me, a party is four plus.  Why?  Well, you would never just say, “Can I have five friends hang out tonight?”  Rather, that qualifies as a small party to me.  But, it’s not much, just some guys or girls (or both) hanging out.
• Is parental supervision required?  This is the toughest one out there.  It depends on the kids and the size of the party.  For example, I like to think that my friends and I are responsible kids, and to the most part, my parents agree.  So, if it was just a friend or two and I, they would leave us unsupervised.  I think a group of four or so could even be unsupervised, but I doubt they would let that happen. (My parents are on the more supervising end.)  At the same time, if I had twenty kids over, they would never leave us unsupervised.
• 72% of kids consume alcohol before the end of high school.  So, the more kids in your house, the more likely drink/other illegal activities will happen, which leaves legal obligation to the parents.  This could happen in small groups, so you also have to judge the kids.
• Finally, planning the party is a major factor.  This, I think, should have major teen involvement.  No matter what type of party it is, at 15, I don’t ever want a parent helping me make invitations.  I’m hanging with several friends tonight and it was all planned via word of mouth and text message.  Also, we don’t need some crazy preplanned menu.  As teenage boys, pizza and whatever snacks we can find are good.  At the same time, we do eat a lot, so be ready.  Oh and we drink tons of soda.  I once saw two 2-liter bottles disappear in one hour; there were only three boys present.

So, if you aren’t sure what you should do when your teen wants a party, feel free to keep this in mind.