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(NAPSI)-A recent survey by the American
Dietetic Association (ADA) asked 1,000 member registered dietitians for
their recommendations on how parents can prevent childhood weight gain and
obesity. According to the survey, a majority of registered dietitians feel
that parents can play the primary role in preventing the growing problem of
childhood overweight.
The survey results were used by Quaker
Oatmeal to create an easy five-step online nutrition program called "Quaker
Oatmeal Strive for Five" that helps parents instill key nutrition habits at
home and prevent inappropriate childhood weight gain.
"The percentage of overweight children has
doubled in the past three years, and research indicates the key to breaking
this cycle is for parents to take an active role in preventing the problem,"
said ADA president and registered dietitian Marianne Smith Edge. "The online
tools developed by Quaker Oatmeal provide parents with practical,
easy-to-implement guides to help establish a healthy lifestyle and become
better role models for their children."
The program takes a new approach to the
childhood obesity epidemic by combining the knowledge and expertise of many
thought leaders into one fun, easy-to-use resource. The program takes just
five to 10 minutes each day to complete and is organized into weekly
calendars that offer tips, interactive, downloadable tools and incentives
recommended by the ADA member survey.
"I think parents will be surprised at how
easy it is to introduce healthy eating habits at home. The program gets the
whole family involved and makes it fun to learn how to eat healthy," said
Jodie Shield, MEd, RD, childhood nutrition expert. "Simple steps like eating
meals with your children, serving whole grain foods and offering fun
incentives go a long way in helping children maintain healthy body weights."
Five Steps to Preventing
Childhood Weight Gain and Obesity
Located at
www.quakeroatmeal.com, "Quaker Oatmeal Strive for
Five" works by making simple but critical changes to a family's eating
habits to instill healthier nutrition behaviors in just one month.
Step One:
Become a Good Nutrition
Role Model. Your kids are what you eat. According to the survey, nine out of
10 registered dietitians agree that parents with poor eating habits are the
greatest barrier to preventing childhood weight gain and obesity. An
interactive quiz helps parents assess their family's current eating habits
and learn simple ways to become better nutrition role models.
Step Two:
Introduce Whole Grains. Eating more whole-grain, fiber-rich foods can help
reduce the risk of obesity. Online tools, like a Pantry Checklist, help
parents shop for whole grains and learn how they can and why they should
incorporate them into their family's diet.
Step Three:
Eat a Healthy Breakfast. Eating a balanced breakfast can help prevent
overeating throughout the day. A fun Breakfast BINGO game, developed to help
parents engage their children and encourage them to eat breakfast, offers
daily menus and a customized reward for children who win.
Step Four:
Understand Portion Sizes. Nearly all survey respondents identified parent
education about portion size as an important means to help prevent childhood
weight gain and obesity. The Portion Distortion tool creates a visual
representation of proper serving sizes based on real life objects, such as a
baseball and a deck of cards, for nearly 500 foods commonly eaten by
children aged 6 to 12 years old.
Step Five: Measure Your Progress.
The final component of the program is a reassessment quiz that helps parents
measure their progress in establishing better eating habits for their
families.
Giving your kids a breakfast rich in whole
grains, like oatmeal, can help prevent them from becoming overweight. |
