How to Help Your Child Reach a Healthy Weight

Help for the Underweight Child

Sep 23, 2009 Stacy Herlihy

Even as childhood obesity in on the rise some small children still find it difficult to reach a healthy weight. Help make sure your child gets enough calories.

Helping children reach an ideal weight can be a lifelong task. Start young and help any child reach a healthy weight with a few simple tricks and easy to implement strategies.

One of the first things to remember is that a parent can control what a child eats. But a parent cannot control how much a child eats. How much a child eats is solely up to the child. Forcing your child to eat will only result in an unhappy child and a frustrated parent and a child who is still underweight. An underweight child should not be an unhappy child.

Not All Calories are the Same

Another thing to remember is that all calories are not alike. Stuffing your child with ice cream and cookies may cause him to gain weight but it will not improve his overall long term health or help him reach a healthy weight long term.

Feeding Schedule

Try setting up a specific feeding schedule. Set aside time three times a day when you do nothing but focus on what your child is eating. This time does not necessarily have to be very long. Devote 7:00 – 7:15 a.m. to breakfast, 12:00 – 12:15 p.m. to lunch and 6:00 – 6:15 p.m. to dinner. Set aside two additional periods for snack time.

During this time sit with your child and encourage her to eat. You should also attempt to eat with her even if you are consuming different foods. At this time feed her healthy foods that are higher in calories such as avocados, nuts, fatty fish like salmon, full fat cheeses, cream sauces and whole milk. Many doctors will prescribe vitamins for children so they’re getting the right nutrients.

Daycare Rules

If your child is attending daycare, do not hesitate to tell your day care provider about the schedule you have set up. Most daycare providers will be delighted to work with you in your efforts to increase your child’s weight.

Another helpful technique is to keep a food diary. Write down exactly what your child eats and how much. This will help make you aware of exactly what your child is consuming and help the child reach a healthy weight.

In between do not fret if your child isn’t consuming a lot on a single day. Children’s eating habits can be very variable on a daily basis.

Follow these few simple steps and your child should be on the clear path to a healthier future.

The copyright of the article How to Help Your Child Reach a Healthy Weight in Nutrition is owned by Stacy Herlihy. Permission to republish How to Help Your Child Reach a Healthy Weight in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Small Child