5 Family Fitness Tips

5 Family Fitness Tips by Knute Keeling, Author of Family Fun and Fitness.
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Practical Tips to Help Your Overweight Kid

1. Replace regular soda with plain water, or flavored water. Dilute fruit juices, half fruit juice and half with water.  Encourage them to drink 2 glasses of 1% or fat free milk every day.  You would be surprised to see how many calories you can drink in a day!

 

2. Make salads more flavorful by adding fruits like grapes, dried fruit, nuts, sections of mandarin orange, chunks of pineapple and sliced peaches.  This is a great way to fill up without all the calories and fat that a second helping of your dinner might have.

 

3. Make fruit fun by freezing grapes, slices of banana and berries. Serve the frozen fruit topped with low-fat Cool Whip or dipped in a low-fat Chocolate pudding for dessert or a treat.

 

4. Keep a variety of low-fat yogurt, light cheese strings, veggie sticks like carrots, celery and peppers at the front of the refrigerator so the kids can grab them when they want a snack.  Kids are more likely to choose these low-fat options if they are visible and readily available.

 

5. Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table where the kids can see it and reach for it without thinking. Kids tend to eat what they see!

 

6. Children tend to model your eating patterns, so set a good example by eating healthfully. Make sure you sit together at meal times and make food part of fun family time.

 

7. Make sure your child eats breakfast. Whole grain cereals, low-fat milk, yogurt and fruit is easy and nutritious. Encourage your child to get his/her own breakfast from an early age and provide them with healthy options and a variety of food so they automatically make healthy choices.

 

8. Don't use food as a reward for good behavior and don't restrict food as a punishment. For example, don't say to your child "If you clean your room you can have an ice cream sundae" or “No dessert if you don’t finish your homework”.  Using food as a reward or punishment can set your child up to have negative associations with food that can cause problems later in life.

 

9. Limit time spent watching TV - you’re own and the kids. There is overwhelming evidence that too much TV promotes obesity!  People tend to eat more when in front of the TV and have less activity – a weight gaining combination!

 

10. Get active and have fun with your kids. Take them to the pool, play ball, bike riding, fishing, or hiking.  Being active as a family will improve you and your child’s health.

 

 

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Parenting Guide to Crohn's Disease in Children

Any type of chronic disorder may be especially difficult for a child to cope with. Likewise, being a parent to such a child may leave you feeling helpless and cheated. Unfortunately, the presence of Crohn’s Disease will not be any easier to bear or deal with, as it has particularly unpleasant side effects.

 

Crohn’s Disease is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease which occurs when the immune system overreacts to an agent of the digestive system, sends excessive white blood cells to the area, and causes inflammation as a result. The exact cause of Crohn’s Disease is unknown, but doctors believe it is because the body misperceives positive bacteria naturally found in the intestines as being harmful. However, once the reaction occurs, the immune system is unable to stop the attack on the digestive tract.

 

Any area of the digestive system may be affected by Crohn’s disease, from mouth to rectum; however, the area most affected is the lower portion of the small intestines and colon. Depending on which portion of the system is disease, different symptoms may arise. Some examples of symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Also, as a result of many of these symptoms, certain side effects occur, such as anemia, weight loss, stunted growth, and delayed development.

 

There may also be complication in areas outside of the digestive system, such as arthritis, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, or eye inflammation.

 

Although Crohn’s is a chronic disease, meaning it is ongoing, it does have periods of inactivity. During these periods, no symptoms may occur. However, they will inevitably return at some point. There is currently no cure for Crohn’s Disease.

 

Treatments for Crohn’s Disease include medications and surgery in severe cases. Medications are usually taken to decrease swelling in the bowels, control the reaction of the immune system, treat infection that may arise, or to treat the symptoms of Crohn’s. Surgery is usually only utilized when other treatment methods are ineffective. Unfortunately, many of the medications taken cause a myriad of side effects, many very severe in nature. However, often medication is necessary in spite of side effects to eliminate potentially life threatening issues, such as infection.

 

It is important to maintain a healthy diet and to intake plenty of fluids. Malnutrition sometimes occurs from lack of absorption of foods. Likewise, dehydration is a concern due to diarrhea and vomiting.

 

Your child will also more than likely experience a lot of emotional issues as a result of this disease.

 

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