Overweight Child - Garden Grove,CA

The (original) Hilton Head Metabolism Diet By Dr. Peter Miller. 2 weeks booster / 1 week re-entry. I was on this as a child and dropped my extra weight FAST. I found it when I went to college and added some more with marriage and babies - I'm back on it, the 'regular way' this time. My 11 year old step daughter is doing the kid method, though - and has dropped 15 lbs in 3 weeks, without once saying she's hungry.

S.

Thank you for bringing this issue up.

I have a 6 year old daughter who is 76 lbs. She has always had a big appetite. I don't want her to have a complex about her body and develop eating disorders, so I have not said much about it. Her dad and I eat healthy, but we do tend to overeat portions, and so does she. We all exercise, and she is active in tumbling, dance, horseback riding, and just running around (not a couch potato). She has been a picky eater and I have to get creative abouty vegetables. I have probably given in to chicken nuggets too often. If I give her a normal portion size for her, she asks for more and cries that she is still hungry. It is hard to walk that line between making her self-conscious about her body and making her learn to be healthy. We talk about health and strength instead of weight. I am hoping she drops it when her metabolism changes.

Everyone's comments were helpful.

Dear M.,
Here are some tips I have learned along the way in my own health journey:
(1) Remove all unhealthy foods from the house.
(2) Make exercise what the whole family does to-
gether.
(3) Daily water intake: weight divided by 2,
then convert to ounces
(4) Eliminate soda AND fruit juices. Eat
fruit nutrents in whole fruit
instead (the fiber lowers blood
sugar levels).
(5) Eliminate white sugar, white rice, white
pasta and white flour from the diet
(6) Eat 5-13 servings of fruits and veggies
daily if under 18; 7-13 if over.
(If you find that hard to do on
your own, email me at
____@____.com. I have some
workable suggestions.)
(7) Limit meals eaten out and choose wisely
when you do.
(8) Eliminate fast food meals (except for
maybe Subway).
(9) Shop the perimeter of the grocery store
(i.e. buy lean meats, fruits,
veggies, whole grains)
and eliminate or, at least,
minimize buying from the
inner aisles, though frozen
veggies are acceptable).
(10) Add EFAs (essential fatty acids) like
nuts, seeds, dark leafy greens
and fatty fish for their Omega 3s.
(11) Eliminate trigger foods. For instance, foods
with MSG, table sugar or other
additives that trigger
mindless-craving eating.
(12) Don't eat while watching TV.
(13) Chew food well and long. (Our stomachs feel
full 20 minuutes after starting
to eat, so the less in by then,
the fuller we feel with less
calories).
(14) You are the parent; you set the stage! You
have authority!
(15) Educate your son on healthy food shopping
choices. (I have a great DVD I can
share with you. If you are inte-
rested, drop me a line at
____@____.com).
(16) Include and involve your son when gro-
cery shopping.
(17) Make this journey fun! Create a Vision Board
of all the fun things he/you/whole
family will get to do
when goals are accomplished!
(18) Make this a family journey, so your son
doesn't feel singled out!
(19) Don't preach! Instead show and involve!
Hope these suggestions help and are a blessing to you and your son! :)
Blessings!
J. F.

You truly don't need a meal program. The best thing to do is eliminate from the groceries/house the things that make us overweight. Avoid processed/fast foods. They tend to be loaded with additives (MSG is in nearly everything, sometimes labeled as "spice" or "flavoring"), which make them tasty and addictive, and more research is showing that the additives also make us gain weight. Sugary drinks (soda - even diet, JUICE, punch, etc), processed grains (white flour, white pasta, white bread - even "wheat bread" is just white flour that hasn't been bleached - white rice, quick oats, etc.) If it is really whole grain, it will say "100% whole grain". A lot of GM cereals now say "made with whole grain", which means they put a little in it, but it's not 100% whole grain unless it says that (like Shredded Wheat). Also, cereals tend to be bad, as they are loaded with more SALT than potato chips, and sugar. The problem is that refined grains have had all the fiber and nutrients stripped from them. By law they have to add some vitamins back in, because otherwise it's nothing but calories. So when it says "fortified", that means it's been added back in. Just eat the real deal in the first place, and you'll get those nutrients.

There are homemade playdo recipes that just call for white flour and salt, which is what so many prepared foods/snacks are made of. Not nutritious at all. Also, this is unnatural, so it raises the blood sugar unnaturally, which raises insulin, which makes the blood sugar crash, and ultimately makes us fat.

So what to eat then? Regardless of what some people say, in my opinion eggs are just about a perfect food. Our bodies make cholesterol, which has a number of important jobs in our bodies, including providing a barrier that protects the brain. Yes, eggs have cholesterol, but have been found to be pretty darn healthy for us. So, eggs and fruit (not juice) and maybe some whole wheat toast for breakfast. I know some people think pancakes are fattening, but I've made them from scratch my whole life and if you use whole grain flour (wheat or buckwheat), and milk, eggs, and maybe half as much oil as the recipe calls for, and omit the sugar, they are pretty healthy in my opinion. Of course, only use about a teaspoon of butter and/or syrup/jam, just enough to give it the flavor. Whole grain oats are great for breakfast, too, just watch how much sugar goes in.

For dinners, anything that you make is going to be better than anything processed. When you go grocery shopping, just stay along the perimeter of the store (dairy, meat, produce) and you'll do fine. If you work - or not, the crock pot makes wonderful pot roasts with vegies. There's nothing wrong with that, just try to use lean cuts of meat. Or chicken dishes, or anything made with legumes (beans). Split pea soup is really easy, and people are always surprised at how yummy it is. I put a pinch of meat for flavoring (sausage, ham, etc) and some onions, carrots and garlic, salt and pepper, and my small children and hubby love it. It cooks in about 40 minutes (longer in the crock pot), and doesn't need to soak. Chile (beans, lean meat, tomatoes) is a great food, and I like it over chopped lettuce. Fried rice (easy to make yourself) from brown rice, with a little bit of oil, a couple of eggs, a little soy sauce, and vegies is a simple, quick dish. I often make a big pot of rice, then keep some in the fridge ready to use (it doesn't keep too long, maybe a week). I've replaced pasta with rice a lot (like spaghetti - rice is just as good with sauce/lean meat). There are bean recipe books (look on amazon), and crock pot books, etc.

And, just don't buy the true junk food like chips, cookies, crackers, cakes, desserts. You don't even have to say why. If asked, I just tell my kids it's junk food. There are so many opportunities to eat it anyway away from home - that's enough.

And, milk in moderation. A former coworker of mine gained 20 pounds in about a month as soon as she found out she was pregnant because she started guzzling whole milk. The doctor told her to knock it off. Funny how people think they can eat whatever they want just because they are pregnant, then wonder why they pack on 50 pounds, and can't lose it after baby is born. Anyway, no more than 3 cups of milk a day for your son. It's important to learn to drink water.

For snacks, fruit, nuts (in moderation), vegies, sandwiches with whole wheat bread, just a smidge of mayo, or for PB a thin layer of PB, etc.

If you ever glance in the cart of a really obese person at the grocery store, it's usually full of what not to eat: sugary drinks, chips, cookies, "snack foods", etc.

Also, it is almost never recommended that children actually lose weight. It's too risky when they are developing bones and such. It's much better to eat properly and get exercise so that he develops muscle, which then makes him slimmer, without actually losing weight. If he did happen to lose a few pounds in the process (without restricting HEALTHY foods), that would be ok.

Best of luck to you! I have a degree in nutrition, so kind of got long winded here.

I highly recommend you read the book "Your Child's Weight: Helping Without Harming" by Ellyn Satter. She is the guru for child/family feeding issues.

She has also written another excellent book "Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family". Both books are available on amazon.com. Must reads!

I am a registered dietitian, and I found her approach to be very helpful when raising my kids. Whatever you do, do not put him on a restrictive diet...

N. Clark MS RD
Author, N. Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook

A book I read over 20 years ago that helped me raise my kids in a healthy way was "FEED YOUR KIDS RIGHT." I believe the author was Adelle Davis. I also read her book on pregancy nutrition - - maybe it was called "LET'S HAVE HEALTHY KIDS." Both of those books really put me on the road to having a healthy-weight for myself and my family. I NEVER used the word "diet" with my kids, but I watched lots of other moms use it. The one time I heard it that made the most impact on me was a mom telling me about her 10-year old's restricted diet - - while she stood in the kitchen stirring up a batch of Betty Crocker Brownies! I watched her daughter grow up drinking DIET SODAS. I tried to share with the mom that diet sodas and, even, regular sodas are a horrible thing to give to young kids - - ASPARTAME (Nutrasweet) and HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP are things we should try to avoid in our food as much as possible. (www.sweetpoison.com)

Hi M.,
I just wanted to say that I was an overweight child and am an overweight adult. I have a nephew who is 9 and was 110 last time we weighed him. I have to say my parents put me on weight watchers when I was 14, and while my Mom was supportive and did the program with me, my Dad was always the skinny one going do you really think you should eat that.I have to say my Mom was more helpful. My Dad just made me want to eat. We are trying to not say anything about my nephew's weight and just buy healthier food, but it is a little more complicated because he is spread out between my Mom's, my Brother', who is his Dad, and his Mom. His Mom is supper skinny and her answer is just don't feed him, which she does not realize actually slows sown his metabolism and makes things worse. So keep up the healthy eating, and try not to dwell on it. Look at the back of packages to for serving sizes. A serving of meat is 6oz. about the size of your palm, fruit about the size of your fist, most everything else is 1/2 a cup which does not seem like much at all. Carbohydrates are the cause of a lot of American's being overweight. RDA for Carbs is 30 grams per meal and 15 per snack. 15 grams is a slice of toast. Protein is the friend of those trying to lose weight, I was given these tips by my Doctor when trying to get pregnant, they are just the RDA set by the FDA not a diet, keep cheese and veggies like baby carrots for snacks, and he should have 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, never eat carbs without protein it has a lesser effect on your blood sugar. I didn't see if anyone asked have they tested his thyroid, and for diabetes and insulin resistance. I have insulin resistance it is a bit like diabetes only they sometimes call it pre-diabetes. Good luck sounds like things are going better hope it stays that way. Oh yeah I recently had lap band and to learn portion contro. I bought bowls with lines on the inside, they are dixie disposable, not eco friendly I know, but helpful to me, and I just measured everything for a week, to see where certain foods came to in comparison to that line. They recommend salad plates instead of dinner plates also. You could easily buy small bowls with lines as a decoration inside. The lap band has me follow RDA also. Good luck let me know if you need more help with portion control. I found it was about half of what I was used to eating. Who knew that there are 2/5 servings in one can of Campbell's soup? Not me I always ate the whole thing and was still hungry.

M. T

M., Like Vickie C. (and apparently several others) I didn't see this notice when it was first posted. I urge you to re-read Nancy C's comments. Many responders to your question are right on target. You don't want to focus on your child's weight to the point that he becomes self-concious about it. You also don't want to put him on restrictive diets.
Many children, as you have probably noticed reading through your responses, tend to be a little chunky when they are young but generally outgrow it when they hit their pre-pubescent growth spurt. It could be that it was merely coincidental that you were living with your parents when your son filled out or it could have been grandma's over-indulgent way of showing her love for your son. In either case, now that you are fully in control of your son's diet, this might be a good time to review the whole family diet. If you and your husband are eating healthily and are not overweight, what is different in your son's diet/lifestyle that makes him overweight? If you all are on the high side of your healthy weight, perhaps a review and overhaul of your diet overall might be in order. You did mention that you had been on a Nutri-System program and lost weight. (I think I'll write a book one of these days entitled: "DIET is a 4-letter Word"!) You said it taught you portion control. But there are so many other issues involved in creating and maintaining a healthy diet.

DIET by the way, is not a dirty word. Diet is whatever nutrients you take in to sustain life. Some people have weight loss/gain diets. Some have a healthy diet, while others have a not so healthy diet. Our society seems to have become so obsessed with weight that we have forgotten how to eat healthy. Actresses in size 00 clothes with torsos so small their heads look two sizes too large for their bodies have given us an unrealistic perception of what is desireable. Nutritional medicine has manipulated and changed what they determine we should eat and in what proportions. When you mother was a girl, the concept of the 'ideal' weight for a girl of twelve was substantially different than when you were that age (by about twelve pounds). So when your mother might have been considered at her ideal weight, if you were the same weight at the same age, you might have been considered obese!
The important thing here is to focus on your son ... and your whole family ... getting a healthy diet and lifestyle. As far as exercise is concerned, you have moved in the right direction with extra-curricular sports programs. But make sure you back that up with family activities that emphasize the activity. Your own personal lifestyle will go a long way toward teaching your son to be active in his life as a whole. How you relate to food will teach your child how to relate to food so, if you are always counting and measuring and obsessing about what you eat, he will too. If, on the other hand, you prepare nutritious foods and well-balanced meals, have only healthy, nutritious snacks - for everyone in the home - and treat food as a tool in maintaining a healthy mind and body, then that is what your child will take into adulthood.
Many of us have been raised by parents who fretted about their own weight and so transferred their fears to us with little comments about our weight and what we are eating. It's part of the accidental, unconcious emotional baggage they dump on us to carry for them.
So for your own sake as well as your son's, check out the books Nancy recommended. Learn what you can do to change your own attitude about food. Figure out what's causing problems in your family's lifestyle and work to change it. It may take awhile to establish new habits of food shopping and cooking, and you may have to work to change the habit of sitting down in front of a tv in favor of taking the family out in the yard or to the park for a while. But remember, you're worth it.

I had a pudgy little guy too. His doctor said not to put him on a diet to lose weight. He said to cut out soda and chips. He told me not to dwell on the weight, just try to maintain it where it was and not necessarily LOSE it, and let him grow into it. When he hit that growth spurt at puberty... no more pudge! :o) In fact all my 3 of my 4 kids went through a chubby stage right before puberty. My daughters look back at their old pictures and ask, "Why didn't you tell me I was fat?" haha! I had a friend who mentioned to her daughter that maybe they should go on a fat free diet, to lose a little weight. (The girl was in high school.) She ended up in the hospital with anorexia. So, I never wanted to let my kids think they were overweight at all. I think the fact that your son is very active is a great sign. Keep up the activity... it sounds like you are a great mom so, keep up the good work!

You probably are sick of hearing advice at this point M.. There is no magic answer. You sound like a good mom doing your best. This is just a thought because I agree "dieting" probably won't work well. My thought is that boys like to be strong. Teach your son that sugary sports drinks are bad but that protein drinks will help him build his muscle. You are already teaching him about portions. I introduced my sons to protein powder drinks and they LOVE them. This is not a diet, but when my son gets home from school I no longer have much "junk" in the house and I offer to make him a shake. I put in a banana or strawberries, and my oldest son started putting in a spoon of peanut butter. They really love these drinks. This helps with hunger and is so healthy. My friend and I both lost a couple of pounds doing this because we don't want other snacks and aren't as hungry at dinner. In my house the protein drinks have become a staple. Just a thought. Know you are doing the right things but you can't totally control how another person eats. Hang in there Mom!

Hey M.,
I have not gone through this myself, but I do agree with the don't reward with food...like birthday dinners and big desserts...there are so many other great rewards out there for kids. I am glad to see he's in school activites and that's what got my attention...I have been struggling myself with the do I do vidieo games or not with my kids...I feel like they're the only ones out there without a game system...that's when I stumbled across the ME2...it's a handheld game(about the size and shape of a cell phone)and it's only about $24(they're on sale for less at Target)...anyway this game gives you points for being active...you clean your room or you play a sport...the more you move the more points you earn...then you go to their free website and download or upload to play games...my kids get 20 mins max a day on the computer and my three older ones(they're 6,8,and 9) love their ME2's...they compete with each other to see who can get the most points and it clips onto your pants or fits in their pocket for running club or gym...anyway I saw your request and thought maybe it would be a win/win for you as well...goodluck with your son!
C.

Hi, I was an overweight child and had an overweight son who has slimmed down a bit and is in range. Here are some suggestions: 1. Don't put him on a diet because I was 12 when my mom dragged me all over for weight and it took me a long time to get over the embarrassment and issues with food. Clean out your fridge and eat together in a healthy way. Don't reward with food (we used to always cycle to get an ice cream...aaaa why bother). Now we cycle to a different kind of destination park, friends etc. 2. Look at your family overall and not just your son. Eat healthier and strive to exercise together as a family every day, even if it means just walking the dog. He will grow taller soon (10-11) and that will slim him out. Also we just got wii fit and it is the most wonderful video game I have seen. Great for the whole family. Good luck to you.

Here is a good website: nutritiondata.com
Eating a low glycemic index diet will help the body.
Good luck to you and your family.

I have the same problem one of my twins is 4ft 6 inches and 100 lbs. I have had him on a healthy eating program for one year and he still hasn't lost weight.

Just things I've been learning:
As far as portion control, I am on Weight Watchers and have learned that you should not eat any more than your fist. So I took a look at my son's fist, its about 1/4 cup or so. 1 sandwich etc. - 1 handful. I also have started packing pretzels as a healthier alternative to chips. We talk about his eating choices about once a week, and I encourage him to eat healthy. I'd rather him be on the chunky side than have an eating disorder later. I never equate size with looks.

My son also is in sports, runs at recess and is not very sedetary. I agree with another poster that at about 12-14 he could have a huge growth spurt and end up tall and skinny.

I think you are doing the right things...just take a good look at what he is eating. Perhaps encourage him to fill up on fruit and veggies first.

Much overweight issues can be caused by a child/person whose cells aee infused with Candida Albicans (yeast).And another interesting fact, overweight people are malnourished. Going on a yeast free diet helps, reducing carbs,It is the sugar and carbs in our diets that cause weight issues and destroy vitamins. Also eat foods as close to natural state as possible.

CHIA SEED- put a tablespoon in 8 oz of water. Stir. let it sit 20 minutes. It forms a tasteless gel that can be added to pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, etc.... it displaces calories but at the same time adds the richest vegan source of omega 3, easily absorbed protien, more fiber than bran ,more calcium than milk, no gluten, easily absorbed protien!!!!

M., there is so much great advice here! I am really impressed with the knowledge of this group.

As a nutrition and weight management consultant, I would simply emphasize the points made about eliminating simple carbs (especially sodas and other sweet drinks and anything containing high fructose corn syrup), increasing healthy foods such as true whole grains and vegetables (but not corn and potatoes, which are high glycemic), and incorporating exercise. If you can add some weight training in a fun way, that will make a big difference too. More muscle = better metabolism.

Several people commented that it's important not to focus too much on weight loss, and I mostly agree, but it is a delicate matter. While it is important to support our children's sense of self and self-esteem, childhood obesity is damaging in a huge number of ways, and I feel that it really is important that we get our kids trimmed down.

I have a blog article on this topic at:
http://J..wordpress.com/2008/10/14/obesity-kills-slowly-s...

I am really enjoying this forum! What a wonderful resource. --J.

You are the mom and provide food for the son - you control what he eats and how much - my kids are not allowed to choose their own food, nor do they buy their own food...so I just keep the candy on top of the fridge and they can only have 2 small pieces IF they finish all their dinner...they should be allowed to have a treat as kids...but just not too much - and the rest of the time, feed him healthy foods that you would eat - switch him to whole grain breads (I love OatNut from Arnold's and so do my kids), and give him tons of fruits and veggies...my kids got spoiled by their grandma before I became step mom and there was a period of adjustment for them to get used to new healthy foods, but knowledge gives power, so I just explained to them why junk food is unhealthy and why good foods are healthy and I bought them a nutrition book for kids that explains the food groups and portions, etc...and let them see for themselves...then I would let them each pick a meal they LOVE and cook it for them once a week, so they felt in control, however, I substituted my own ingredients, like instead of spaghetti, I would use whole grain spaghetti, and I would add fresh veggies in the sauce so they would have nutrients...and instead of cheeseburgers, I would make turkey burgers on whole grain buns....and fat free hot dogs with whole grain buns....I also changed my lasagna to be more veggies (cant even taste cooked spinach in it) and whole wheat noodles. Tons of ideas and just sub low fat and whole grain ingredients....:)

M., my 9 year old is also 108 pounds so I feel your frustration. My son plays football, basketballn soccer and is a very active kid just has a round belly! I don't make a fuss so he doesn't realize he is different my husband is a big guy tall and stocky so I assume this is where it comes from. His doctor said jusy get him more active such as running and ezercise not weight lifting. We now run in the morning he actually enjoys it. I am not very worried because I know he ia due for a growth spurt and will grow tall as he has not grown tall in a year or so. I would watch his intake in moderation and maybe have an evening walk or morning run, or both? It will help everyone. But just don't make your son feel like its an issue so his self esteem will stay high. Good luck and follow up with me about his progress.

You may also want to look at your local Weight Watchers facility. I was an overweight child and my parents checked first with our doctor, who put me on a portion controlled diet. We also did a Weight Watchers program. My parents never taught me about proper nutrition so I finally learned what to eat at the Weight Watchers meetings. They not only teach you about portion control but also about living a healthy life style.

Although your child is enrolled in sports, does he overcompensate with eating more b/c he's more active? Lastly, you may want to google the Food Pyramid guidelines as well as Child nutrition to get a better gage of what is a healthy weight for your child and what type of portions are good for kids. Good luck!

The FDA has a great nutrition program for all ages of children and parents. It has colorful pages with activites you can use with your child and his friends. Check it out!!

You migt want to take him to a dietian at your local hospital and they have great booklets on losing weight.It is expensive to see them but most insurances pay for it once

M.,

I was reading an article in People about a man who lost weight simply by using smaller plates. In 1963 the average plate was 9 inches in diameter and 810 calories. In 2004 the average plate was 12 inches and averaged 1870 calories. Alex Bogusky wrote a book called the 9-inch diet which I have not read, but I do think it's interesting that he talks about how portions have gotten so out of control. Good luck and try not to worry too much. My nephew was a husky kid who ate a ton of junk food and now that my mom is raising him and has him eating healthier foods he has evened out. Try to find fun ways to do active things, that don't feel like exercise, but instead time you and your son get to spend together doing something fun.

My grandughter is 3 years old and weights 50 lbs i am concern for her health diabetes runs in my family and my daughter (her M.) is a breast cancer survivor. When i baby sit for her i take her swimming and we go for walks and i try to offer her more water instead of sweets which she loves. How about a good nutrition program your sons pediatrian can give you a referal. Keep your chin up. My grandaughter moved 400 miles away so i have no control of her eating habits but you have control of your son sound to me like you are a caring M.. Good luck abby

You have a lot of great responses. Making negative comments about the weight or food will only make the child eat more. I know I did that when my mom commented on what I was eating. He may be using food to deal with feelings too. You can ask how he feels. I am starting to eliminate the candy and junk food from my kids. My kids are fine but eat too much sugar. I wanted to let you know sometimes kids put on a lot of weight when they are going through a growth spurt too. My nephew was chubby as a kids and when he grew he got tall and skinny. So I would not focus on it too much, but do watch what you allow and don't put temptation in front of him. Also, what I was told is that we have to set the example if we expect our kids to eat healthy we have to do it too. We can't tell them to do something we are not doing. He may just need to adjust to the transition and move too.

I think I would share with him in a learning way, what you learned about portion sizes and how getting them under control has helped you. I told my kids they never have
to finish anything on their plate, eat what they like first (that way they don't stuff themselves to eat it later), and to stop when they feel just right. I also told them it sometimes takes 20 minutes for the food to digest so eat slowly. I told them there were times I ate so fast because I was hungry that I ate too much, but didn't realize it tell later because I didn't feel full from eating fast. I used myself as an example. This is something I am still working through. However, since you have lost the weight you can casually mention some of these things - you don't even have to direct the comments at him. You can be talking about it at dinner.

Being in sports, he can be gaining muscle and then lose the weight. It takes time for the body to adjust. When I did the Body for life program I didn't notice any difference until week 6 and then it was only slight. It was really after 3 months that I finally started losing. Once the metabolism changes he could lose a lot faster. Also, maybe not allow too much tv which tends to be a time for wanting snacks. Make sure he is drinking plenty of water, etc.

Best to you, I think I would just try to set the example and see how it goes. What did the Dr. suggest? at 4'10" 110 lbs. doesn't seem way over weight. I think we have to realize we can't control our kids and we have to not focus on it too much. This has been an extremely hard lesson for me.

Take care and God Bless,
K.

YOu already have a lot of good advice here, I would only like to add one thing. I recently invested in a commercial grade juicer that makes juice out of fruit and vegetables. It takes about 8 large carrots to make one glass of carrot juice (all that carrot pulp just goes in the garbage instead of in your stomach) and you can put in other good stuff like fresh parsley, cabbage and organic apples and pears -- surprisingly tasty! I would not talk about his weight either... I feel like he will grow into his weight if you make some sensible changes in his routine.
Good luck,
N

For whatever reason (I may have just not opened all my MamaSource emails), I didn't see this the first time around til you gave the follow-up notice. I'd advise to keep a positive outlook (never scold about how much he eats or scorn how much he's gained). I was anorexic as a teenager before doctors around where we lived had even heard of it (1973-74). My mom always made us eat everything on our plate, then when we hit adolescence and took a growth spurt the comments turned kind of ugly ('You sure are eating an awful lot', or 'I can't believe how big you're getting'). I'm some overweight now (not grossly), but I'd really like to be the size I was THEN when I thought I was FAT! Our daughter is that same size and almost the same shape, and it looks GOOD! LOL

Also, later in life I read this little profunditiy somewhere: There's a big difference between 'servings' and 'helpings'. That might be part of your teaching/learning strategy!

God bless and happy parenting!

Hi M.,
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We all eat too fast, therefore we don't feel full and ask for more. Make a game of who can eat the slowest and how many chews for each bite of food. If it takes 20 minutes or so to complete your meal, everyone at the table will feel satisfied. I've read many reports on people who just chewed a lot longer and lost weight without even trying because they ended up eating less! :)