What They See is What They Eat
The evil one who's luring your child toward danger may be sitting right in the family room. It's your TV!
The food marketing messages flashing across your television screen are very enticing to kids, leading them to load up on drinks and foods filled with sugar and fat and low in nutrients. Limit TV's unhealthy influence by eating only in the kitchen or dining room and by following up meals with a game of tag, piggyback races, or a walk around the block.
The average child watches more than 10,000 food-related commercials each year, most of them advertising snacks and convenience or fast foods. Recent studies have shown that the quality of food eaten goes down as the hours of TV viewing rise. Couple this problem with a reduction in physical activity from more time being spent in front of the television, and it's easy to see a connection between TV viewing and the rising rate of childhood obesity.
Check out these 5 ways to help your kids or grandkids develop healthy TV viewing habits.
Obesity is more easily prevented than treated, and one way you can help is simply to turn off the television. Replace TV time with more physically challenging options such as acting out plays and stories, teaching kids how to dance, training to run or walk a 5K race together, or starting a kids' bowling league. As an alternative, record your family's favorite shows and fast-forward through the commercials. When your kids do watch television, join them and choose programs that spur curiosity, discussion, and learning. Also, talk about what is being advertised and how the ads influence choices and behavior.
As prevalent as advertising is, kids still take cues from their parents. If you encourage a healthy TV diet and an active lifestyle, you'll diminish the negative effect TV viewing and advertising can have on your child's health.
