My husband and I finally got away last weekend with a quickie trip to Temecula, 45 minutes outside of San Diego. We went wine tasting all afternoon, had a wonderful dinner and stayed in a quaint B&B. Of course, when I finally have the chance to sleep in, I wake up at 6:30am sharp. So I went downstairs, got some coffee and took in the beautiful view.

The couple working at the B&B were awesome hosts. The husband is a chef and he made a two-course breakfast. The first course was Swiss Muesli, muffins and fruit. The main course was an exotic French toasty kind of dish (forgot the fancy name). It was absolutely wonderful to be waited on for a change — someone actually caring if I like the food!

I didn’t bring any reading with me and ended up with a copy of Bon Appétit. I saw a few recipes that I wanted to try and remember someone telling me to just take pictures with my phone instead of rudely ripping it out. I’m trying the fish dish this week!

For more meal plan ideas see Org Junkie.

What’s Cooking This Week

Monday: Baked Burritos with toppings

Tuesday: Classic Sole Meuniere (Bon Appetit), baked fries, garlicky green beans and salad

Wednesday: Kids’ Choice

Thursday: Chicken Peanut Butter Stir Fry, brown rice and fruit

Friday: Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna (family favorite) with salad and bread

Trying a new Greek Salad this week too!

More obesity news
Where do I start? I feel like the news around weight is coming so fast it’s hard to keep up. But one study really caught my eye — and not in a good way.

This article in the New York Times sums up the new research with the take home message that there really are good and bad foods. The study published in The New England Journal of Medicine followed 120,877 men and women (not obese) from 1986 to 2006, 1991 to 2003, and 1986 to 2006.

Weight increases over each of the 4-year periods were strongly linked to consumption of fries, potato chips, potatoes, sugar sweetened beverages, unprocessed red meats and processed meats. Weight was inversely associated with consumption of vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and yogurt.

The study also showed that other lifestyle factors like too little physical activity, excessive alcohol intake, too little (<6 hours) or too much (> 8 hours) sleep and more TV time was linked with weight gain over time.

I have no problems with the results of this study — they make sense to me. But I don’t think the take home message should be there are good and bad foods. The truth? There are good and bad diets with single foods given way too much power.

I’m sure the people who ate healthy diets also consumed chips and fries every once and while. They just weren’t a frequent, daily occurrence in their diet.

I want to know more about the people who were eating nutrient-poor foods so often. What were their barriers? Did they not know how to cook? Were they chronic dieters? Were they raised to eat in that way?

I think we have a tendency to be superficial about eating guidance — eat “this” and not “that” –instead of digging for the why behind eating. Don’t most people already know which foods are healthy? The million-dollar question, to me anyways, is why aren’t more people doing it?

I think the answer is different for everybody but I believe part of it has to do with this black and white thinking about food that is already ingrained in our culture of nutrition. From my experience working with clients, most people already see foods as good or bad. In fact, an ADA survey conducted in 2000 showed that 57% of people think there are certain foods they should NEVER eat. When you make people feel like they have to choose, they often obsess about the items they have to give up, or put off healthy eating indefinitely.

For example, when I educate patients who just had heart surgery or are newly diagnosed with diabetes I am the last person they want to see. They ask, “what am I going to have to give up?” I say, “nothing.” Their ears perk up as the food-police image they had of me slowly starts to fade.

I tell them they are just going to change the frequency and amounts of some of the things they are eating — and they will be adding a lot of new and tasty foods to their diet. But they also have to change how they eat, and their relationship with food, as many people don’t make eating a priority. This approach is so much more successful than when I used to tell patients all the foods they could no longer have.

Ironically, just as this study came out so did news that Michelle Obama ordered a 1700 calorie meal at a hamburger joint. There’s an assumption that someone involved with childhood obesity should eat perfectly, even though the article goes on to say that occasional meals like this are okay.

What do you think? Do these messages bother you or is it just me?

Welcome to summer! Meals in our home change a bit when the weather is hot and the days are longer. Easy meals that highlight what’s in season are key, which includes lots of fresh fruit.

We are also getting more into grilling. Or shall I say my husband is thanks to a new grill and lots of entertaining. With young kids around (2 and
4), it’s just easier to have people over at our place.

We want to grill more fish, so we’ll be trying this new salmon recipe. I’m also looking for healthy and tasty salads (pasta/bean combos) for BBQ sides. I tried this bean and corn salad over the weekend and it turned out great. The kids didn’t touch it but as you know, these things take time!

For more meal planning ideas see Org Junkie.

What’s Cooking this Week?

Monday: Have it your way tacos (with Laura’s beef — giveaway ends tonight) and all the toppings

Tuesday: Ravioli with spinach, garlic bread and salad

Wednesday:Kids’ Choice (had been quesadillas lately)

Thursday: Slow cooker chickenwith baked fries, garlicky/Parmesan green beans and fruit salad

Friday: Grilled salmon with grilled asparagus/corn, fruit, bread and salad

My two different eaters
Now that Little D is over two, his food personality is coming out. He really loves eating and is very cranky when a meal is even a few minutes late. One morning while I was getting breakfast together I found him sitting underneath his highchair waiting.

Just like a lot of kids his age (around 2), his appetite has decreased due to slowed growth but he still eats more than the average toddler. When Big A was this age she barely ate dinner which just goes to show how different kids can be when it comes to eating.

Big A is in pushing limits mode. I say black, she says white. I say yes, and she says no. She has times where she’ll try new stuff and other days she dead set against it. She takes any encouragement with new food as pressure where Little D all I have to say is “try?” and he often goes for the new item. But most of the time he eats what he likes first and then if he is still hungry he’ll start eating the less familiar stuff.

One thing I have noticed is that Big A’s appetite has really increased. Where she used to only eat a couple of bites of dinner she now has nights where she digs right in. Even though we never comment on how much she eats she’ll usually say, “Look, I ate everything!” And even though I’m shocked, I just remind her to follow her appetite and that it’s not particularly better if she eats more or less of any meal.

I try really hard not to gush over Little D’s eating or make Big A feel like less of an eater because she is more cautious around food. They both are good eaters in my eyes. But I’m not going to lie, it is more fun feeding an adventurous eater.

For those of you with more than one child, how do you handle your kids’ food differences?

News — Chubby Babies = Chubby Adults?
A friend of mine sent me an email about a news report she heard on NPR: “I heard this story that said chubby baby equals obese teen/adult. It concerns me it will encourage parents to impose unhealthy food restrictions on infants and toddlers.”

I checked the news for the day and discovered this new report from the Institute of Medicine on Childhood Obesity Prevention. One of the researchers talks about how some people still think chubby babies are healthier babies even though weight problems often persist as children get older.

I think all parents need to question the nutrition sound bites they hear on the news. Not only was this taken out of context, but it raises the point no one ever brings up: babies and kids come in different shapes and sizes and a bigger-than-average child is not always bad. I was just talking about my two very different kids. Not only was Big A chubby as a baby, she ate less than my thinner eat-everything son.

As Ellyn Satter always says, if we parents are doing our job of feeding we need to trust that our children will grow into the body size that is right for them. If we feed our children balanced meals at regular intervals and allow them to follow their appetite, they are likely to be just fine. But if we restrict their eating both in terms of what is offered and how much is eaten this almost always backfires. But letting kids eat whatever they want, whenever they want doesn’t work either.  (for more info on feeding styles and weight, check out this article)

What I’m trying to say that weight, in and of itself, is not always the issue. Yes, a super chubby baby could be the result of constant feeding or letting the child graze on energy-dense foods/drinks all day or it can be a normal part of a kid’s development. I just think it’s all too easy in this weight-obsessed world to create problems where there aren’t any.

What do you ya’ll think about these messages about kids’ weight? Do you tune them out or take notice?

In early December the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was signed into law. It had been 10 years since the government reauthorized child nutrition programs — and with childhood obesity on the rise many were fighting for real change.

The new bill incorporates many positive changes with its $4.5 billion of additional funding for child nutrition programs over the next 10 years. But how does this bill translate into the daily lives of children? Here are the highlights…

• Better food choices all around: The USDA already sets nutrition standards for school lunches but now they’ll have the authority to set standards for “other food” sold at school including vending machines, a la carte items and school stores. This may take a while to put in place but the result will be more nutritious food available outside of school lunches.

• More money for lunches: For the first time in 30 years, there will be more money going to school lunches that meet new nutrition standards. There will also be more auditing to ensure school districts are complying with the standards.

• More local food: More funding will go to farm-to-school programs aiming to get more local food into schools.

• More children will qualify: More children will have access to school meal programs due to changes in eligibility and processing.

• New school wellness programs: New standards will be set for nutrition promotion and education and physical activity.

• Safer Food: New requirements will help improve the safety of food at schools.

I know many proponents of this bill wanted even more resources to go to school nutrition programs but this is definitely a step in the right direction.  This, combined with the creative ideas for Smarter Lunchrooms developed by Brian Wansink, means a healthier future for our kids.

What do you think? Does this address any concerns you have at your child’s school? Anyone working in school nutrition care to comment?

Last week turned hectic because my daughter’s sickness spread to the rest of us.  It wasn’t as bad as last time but it still threw the whole week off.  I never got to the Red Beans and Rice but I did make the Chicken Pesto Parm.  I haven’t had much success with producing tasty and moist baked chicken, but the mixture of parmesan and pesto worked beautifully.  I know I’ll make this one again soon. 

I’m looking forward to this week’s meals because I have an incredible new cookbook to try.  I’m going to review it soon but first want to test a few recipes.  For Wednesday slow-cook day, I’m going to make my favorite stew-like meals before the weather gets too hot.  I’m usually not a fan of stews but this one rocks. 

For more meals plans go to Org Junkie.

What’s Cooking This Week

Monday:  Black Bean Burritos, guacamole and toppings

Tuesday: Ravioli with Spinach and Sun-dried Tomatoes, bread and salad (new cookbook — recipe forthcoming).

Wednesday: Italian Chicken with White Beans, Parmesan Crusted Asparagus and bread.

Thursday: Potluck/leftovers

Friday: Roasted Vegetable, Feta Cheese and Basil Pizza

Will have salmon/tuna for lunch to make up for this week’s fish deficit.

News

Three months ago news of the Let’s Move campaign to fight childhood obesity, and Michelle Obama’s leading role, took center stage.  The new White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity promised the public a “plan of action” in 90 days.

And they delivered on that promise.

Last week the Task Force revealed their 124-page report to the President: Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity within a Generation. 

I did not read the entire document word for word (but you can!) but concentrated more on the recommendations. 

The five areas the taskforce focus on include Early Childhood, Empowering Parents and Caregivers, Healthy Food in Schools, Increasing Access to Healthy and Affordable Food and Increasing Physical Activity. 

The Early Childhood section includes ways to increase breastfeeding, improve the quality of prenatal care and childcare settings and make the American Academy of Pediatrics screen time guidelines (2 hours or less) more available.

Empowering Parents and Caregivers focuses on ways to disseminate the 2010 Dietary Guidelines (out soon) and to improve food labels and food at restaurants (with calorie counts for both vending machines and establishments). 

Marketing unhealthy foods took center stage in this section.  The taskforce recommends no advertising to kids, even in-store.  They recommend media and licensing of popular characters only be allowed for healthy food.  And if this doesn’t work they recommend the FCC consider new rules all together.

There will also be a heavy focus on BMI at pediatrician offices and at schools.  This means weight is likely to be checked at schools and kids would go home with a note for parents. 

Pediatricians and schools will provide tips to parents on ways they can help their overweight children.  If things don’t improve more intense treatments may be recommended.

Healthy Food in Schools covers the importance of nutrition education, improving resources for healthy meals, establishing farm-to-school programs and updating nutrition standards for meals and expanding them to a la carte and vending. 

In order to improve Access to Healthy Affordable Food, the taskforce recommends a multi-year, multi-agency healthy food financing initiative to improve the food at underserved urban and rural communities.  They also recommend incentives to grocery stores to include more healthy food as well as wellness policies at public and provide facilities that serve children.

The last one, Increasing Physical Activity, includes ways to decrease the cost of sports, increase recess and physical education classes and make “active transport” a reality for more kids.  Basically active transport is walking or biking to school.  According to the report, 13% of kids currently walk to school compared to 44% in 1969.   Some ideas including walking school buses with adults walking kids to school.

What I don’t like

I’m having trouble with the Empowering Parents and Caregivers section.  Not much of what they recommend is empowering at all, especially the concentration on marketing to children.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a proponent of marketing to kids.  But how do these messages empower parents?  Instead of telling parents they are powerless to advertising, let’s tell them they are the biggest influence on their kids’ eating.  A study published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology showed that parents who talked to their kids about the nature of advertising and provided limits/structure on such foods, had kids that were less impacted by advertising.  Restricting advertising only worked for young children (<8 years).

And there is no mention of family meals or how to feed kids.  How can this message not be included when study after study shows the benefits of family meals on weight, fruit and vegetable intake and disordered eating?  Instead it’s the same old focus on the “what” of eating, telling parents of overweight children to eat healthy.  Don’t they already know that? 

I’m still concerned how this focus on weight will play out.  How will pediatricians counsel families?  Maybe having a dietitian on staff would help?  And they don’t mention anything about making health tips a family affair.  Successful childhood weight management programs that have been shown to effective, such as Shapedown, include the whole family in the process. 

I could go on but I won’t.  I just know that information alone will not motivate people to change.  We need to remove their barriers.  They will take the note and tips from the doctor and go home to the same roadblocks.  When I first started working as a dietitian, I counseled patients this way and most never returned for follow up.

What I like

I like the increasing physical activity section, especially the idea on active transport.  Finding ways kids can have activity naturally built into their environment is key. And making exercise a regular part of their school day is vital.

I also hope that schools get more resources to help them expand their nutritious meals.  And the ideas for increasing healthy foods in more communities sound pretty good. 

I’m curious what you all think about this.  As a parent, do you think much about this obesity epidemic?  Sometimes I think this “childhood obesity” conversation is only being had by health professionals, policy makers and food enthusiasts.

Have a great week and let me know your thoughts!

It’s bath time.  My 3-year old daughter stands naked in front of the mirror dancing, singing and relishing each movement her body makes. One thing is obvious: she loves her body (and herself) in the most pure way. 

I want to keep her like this forever but I know there will come a day when she’ll mutter the dreaded words, “I look fat.”  And then, like millions of people do every day, she might even take action by dieting.

This is the second post in my eating disorders prevention series. The first article provides an eating disorder overview: definitions, statistics and potential causes. Now we are ready to address the first “preventative factor” parents can put in place.

“It’s not just about what parents don’t do,” says Sari Shepphird PhD, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa.  “It’s about the actions they take.”

But Shepphird makes it clear that this is not about placing blame or making parents totally responsible.  Instead, it’s giving parents the tools they need to steer their children in the right direction.

1. Focus on healthy behaviors, not weight:

Abby Ellin was 12 years old when her grandmother told her she had to lose weight before visiting her in Florida.  Like a lot of kids hitting the big P (puberty), she put on weight.   

“I was always told that I had to be thin and beautiful,” she says.  “I became obsessed with food, had days of the week for binging and other days for being good.” She spent 6 years in kids’ weight loss camp, had disordered eating patterns and writes about her experiences in Teenage Waistland: A Former Fat-Camper Weighs in on Living Large, Losing Weight, And How Parents Can (And Can’t). Help

According to a report from the Academy for Eating Disorders, focusing on weight and appearance can encourage eating disordered behaviors and negatively affect self esteem.  Instead, they encourage prevention programs to focus on healthy behaviors, not weight. 

Most health experts agree that weight should be de-emphasized in favor of healthy behaviors such as balanced eating, fewer sweetened beverages, more physical activity and minimal screen time.  This is true for all kids, not just those that carry excess weight. 

But avoiding the topic altogether may not bode well for a kid that is obviously overweight.

“Most of the parents I see are afraid to discuss weight with their child because they fear they will say the wrong thing”,” says Jill Castle, MS, RD, pediatric nutrition specialist and owner of Pediatric Nutrition of Green Hills in Nashville, TN. “Instead of avoiding the subject, they can acknowledge their child’s feelings and help him or her develop a proactive, healthy approach .” 

“I remember growing out of a pair of pants in middle school, and being scared to tell my mom because I knew she’d start with the “I’m not buying you new pants because you need to lose weight” thing. I was never actually overweight, just a little pudgy, and I know now she just wanted me to be healthy, but it put a lot of pressure on me.” Gabriela, 20-year-old college student who has recovered from an eating disorder.

2. Discourage unhealthy dieting:  

According to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, almost half of 9 to 11 year olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets.  But even more of their family members – 82 % — are on-and-off dieters.  And because dieting is the behavior most linked to eating disorders, this is a major problem.

The first step parents can take is to have a diet-free household, meaning they don’t diet or model such behaviors.  According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in 2000, 5-year old girls with dieting mothers were twice as likely to have ideas about dieting.

It’s important to remember that dieting is not good for two reasons. First, research shows it’s ineffective and is associated with weight gain over time.  And second, going on and off diets has a negative impact on quality of life. 

But even if parents don’t diet they might approach food from a diet-type mentality.

“Don’t label food as good or bad,” Castle says.  “Avoid focusing on nutrition numbers like grams of protein, fat or sugar.”

Instead, Castle explains, be neutral about sweets and empty-calorie foods.  Offer them less frequently but don’t make such a big deal out of them.  “What you want is the kid who can walk by the M-n-Ms and not even notice them or take a few and go on his merry way.” 

But even with a diet-free household, kids can be exposed to their friends’ unhealthy dieting practices.  “When I was 15 years old I learned how to throw up from a friend,” says Elisabeth Armstrong, who was diagnosed with an eating disorder in college and chronicles her recovery on her blog, Joggers Life.  “If someone stronger had been there to help me, it would have made a big difference.”

We’ll talk more about early signs and symptoms of eating disorders later, but if you suspect your child is starting down the “diet” road, talk to him or her about it.  Explain the difference between a healthy lifestyle and unhealthy dieting practices.

“I wish my mom hadn’t been so obsessed with dieting and exercise when I was little. I know it’s not her fault, but I grew up seeing food as a reward or a security blanket or even an enemy.” Shelly, college student who is recovering from disordered eating patterns. 

3. Help your child develop a positive body image:

“I think one of the best things parents can do is positive talk. Being told that you’re beautiful no matter what makes a difference!” Caronae, 20-year old girl recovering from depression and poor body image. She blogs at Runwritetherapylife.com  

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, societal factors associated with eating disorders include pressure to be thin, a narrow definition of beauty and cultural norms that value physical appearance over inner qualities. 

But how do we raise children to be satisfied with their bodies in a culture that constantly strives for perfection?

“Sit down with your child and tell them that everyone is built genetically different,” Castle says.  “Some are bigger, some are smaller and some are in between.”

Explain that the images in magazines and movies are unrealistic – and do not represent the population as a whole.  Some women may naturally be that thin, but many are not.

It’s also vital for parents to make sure their children know they are loved for who they are, even if they have a weight problem.  Of course all parents love their kids, but sometimes they can (unintentionally) send messages that make kids feel that their acceptance is tied to looking a certain way.

“My dad once told my sister that I could whoop her in a fight,” says Armstrong.  “I took that as meaning I’m the big, less attractive sister.”  She also says her parents restricted her food intake but not that of her siblings, making her feel like she wasn’t as loveable being overweight.  

And last, and maybe most important, is for parents to be a positive role model when it comes to body image.  “Parents need to do a self-check on themselves,” says Shepphird. “Kids see how parents relate to their own bodies and emulate that.”

This may be the tallest order yet.  What person do you ever hear saying, “I just love my body,” not to mention all the insecurities that come with aging.  When I find myself criticizing the way I look, I try to see myself through my kids’ eyes.  As far as they’re concerned, I’m the be-all and end-all. 

I understand this because I think my mom is one of the most beautiful women I know.  And my husband is even more attractive to me now that he is a father.  I believe the love we have for our kids, and visa versa, can help us appreciate beauty in a more rich way.

Of course there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look our best, become healthier or even lose excess weight.  But there is so much more to life than what someone looks like.  And the sooner we get that message to our kids, the better off they’ll be.

“I wish my mom had known that her lifelong dieting and body-loathing was unnecessary because she is absolutely beautiful the way she is, and the ONLY person who sees something wrong with her is her.” Beth, 17-year old girl from Australia who was diagnosed with an eating disorder last year.

Previous: 3 Things Every Parent Must Know About Eating Disorders
Nect: How to Maximize the Power of Family Meals

Resources
50 Ways to Lose the 3 Ds: Dieting, Drive for Thinness, and Body Dissatisfaction

References
Abramovitz BA, Birch LL. Five-year-old girls’ ideas about dieting are predicted by their mothers’ dieting. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000 Oct;100(10):1157-63.

Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, Lew A, Samuels B, Chatman J. Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: diets are not the answer. American Psychologist. Vol 62(3), Apr 2007, 220-233.

As parents we are inundated with information about getting our kids to eat healthier. We understand there’s a childhood obesity epidemic and many of us have probably struggled with our own eating and weight to some degree.

But what we don’t hear much about is an extremely serious health issue that affects kids and adults across the globe: eating disorders.

With Eating Disorder Awareness Week fresh in our minds, it seemed the perfect time to begin my eating disorder prevention series. The articles in this series will include expert advice and revealing admissions from adults who struggled with eating disorders during adolescence. The goal is to provide you with the information you need to raise children who have a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.

But before getting into all the juicy details, there are some things you need to know first.

1) Eating disorders are not just anorexia and bulimia: If you haven’t personally dealt with eating disorders you might have some misconceptions. Maybe you associate disordered eating with the bone-thin guests who have been on talk shows like Oprah. Or you might think it is mostly a female disease, which it is not.

Through the years not only has the rate of eating disorders risen exponentially in both genders, but the types of eating disorders have expanded. What disordered eating really means is any “atypical” eating style that is detrimental to health and quality of life. We’ll get into what normal eating is later but for now let’s look at the different types of eating disorders:

Anorexia nervosa: The inability to maintain a healthy body weight (85% lower than ideal), an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted view of the body (sees self as fat).

Bulimia nervosa: Defined as someone who binges twice or more weekly in a 3-month period and uses unhealthy practices such as vomiting and laxatives to lose weight.

Binge Eating: Consumes a large amount of food in a limited amount at least twice a week. Feels out of control during eating and shame and embarrassment after eating.

The following disordered eating patterns do not meet diagnostic criteria, but individuals who suffer from them can benefit greatly from receiving help:

Eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS): An eating disorder that does not meet the exact criteria for either anorexia or bulimia but negatively affects quality of life.

Orthorexia: When a person obsesses with eating only “healthy” or “pure” foods to the point where it interferes with daily activities.

Anorexia athletica: The use of excessive exercise to control weight typically found in individuals diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia.

Purging Disorder: Self-induced vomiting or other unhealthy compensatory behaviors in the absence of binge eating

Night-eating: Lack of appetite in the morning followed by consuming half or more of calorie intake after 8pm.

2) All children are vulnerable to eating disorders: Below are some statistics that will give you an idea of how common — and detrimental — eating disorders are.

According to statistics compiled by The Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness and the National Eating Disorders Association:
-Eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals globally.
-At least 50,000 individuals will die as a consequence of an eating disorder.
-The rate of suicide for those with anorexia is 57 times higher than in the general population
-Males account for an estimated 10 to 15% of people who are diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia, however the actual rates may be higher.
-90% of people with anorexia or bulimia are females between the ages of 12 and 25.
-Approximately 50% of those with binge eating disorder are male.
-It has been estimated that 11% of high school students have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
-15% of young U.S. women who are not diagnosed with an eating disorder exhibit significant disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. One survey reported that as many as 65% of young women do so! (Self Magazine)
-The most common behavior that leads to an eating disorder is dieting and almost half of 9-11 year olds are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets while over 80% of their family members are “sometimes” or “very often” on diets.

According Sari Shepphird PhD, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa:
-The risk of death is greater with a low BMI than a high one.
-Up to twenty percent of people with anorexia will die as a result of the illness.
-Bulimia increases by 35% every 5 years.
-Teenage boys are the highest growth segment of individuals suffering from anorexia and bulimia.
-The most common eating disorder, EDNOS, is often never diagnosed and all forms of eating disorders are under diagnosed and under treated.
-Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness in adolescents (behind obesity and asthma).

3) Parents have the ability to help prevent eating disorders:
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there are many causes of disordered eating including genetic, psychological (low self esteem), interpersonal, social and biological factors. But armed with the right information, parents can put “protective” factors in place. Each of these factors will be discussed in detail with each article in this series.

Shepphird says it is much better to prevent, or catch, eating disorder symptoms before they get full blown. By that time, only 50% of those treated will be completely cured and have no recurring symptoms. And the increased risk of death associated with eating disorders is something no parent wants to face.

When you look at the definitions in the first section, you probably can relate to at least one to some degree. These are extreme behaviors but many Americans have an unhealthy relationship with food. They feel guilty for eating food that tastes good, they are unhappy with their body shape and, yes, they diet (I used to do these things too, still working on liking my post-baby body).

I want to help create a different world for my children. A place where food is enjoyed, diets don’t exist and health, not body size, is valued. As John Lennon put so eloquently: “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

Get the word out about eating disorders to other parents!  Use the “share” button below (facebook, twitter etc.).

Tune in next week as we talk about raising kids with a positive body image.

New to Raise Healthy Eaters? Subscribe to be alerted of new posts and recieve a free meal planner and healthy grocery guide.

This is a featured guest post written by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D, psychologist, parent coach, and mom. Her mission is to empower parents to find their own parenting voice and develop strong connections with their children. Her free report, “30 Things You Can Do To Raise Self-Confident, Compassionate Children,” is available at www.drcuneo.com. Dr. Cuneo is also the director of Dinner Together, LLC which offers consultation to families seeking to have more frequent, successful family meals and deal with the challenges of picky eaters. Sign up for her free e-newsletter at www.dinnertogether.com.

As parents we need to be mindful of not only what foods we choose to offer our children, but also of what patterns and associations between food and emotion we are establishing. When our children are upset, it is natural for us to want to soothe them. Often, by habit and by memory our own childhood experiences, we may be tempted to soothe with food.

Don’t get me wrong, soothing with food is not always a bad thing. I want my children to have positive emotional associations with foods. And I’m also the mom who went through a period of time with an active toddler whom I couldn’t get to sit in her stroller without the reward of fruit snacks. But it’s the overall pattern that’s important, and food should never be the only option for comfort or reinforcement.

Here are some other things to consider:

-Negative emotions are not always a bad thing. They provide an opportunity for learning and for greater understanding. The goal isn’t that your child will never experience negative emotions, but rather that they’ll develop skills that will enable them to be soothed and eventually to soothe themselves and cope with negative experiences.

-Your parenting toolbox can be filled with tools other than fruit snacks and sweets to help your child handle their emotions.

-Know that no one strategy will work all the time or for everybody. You’ll need to observe patterns in what seems to work for your individual child at particular times. As their language skills and ability to make connections develop, talking about your observations with them will be providing them with their own coping tools for the future.

So the next time your child is upset and your tempted to give them a cookie or lollipop to help them feel better, think of trying one of these strategies instead.

1. Physical activity: For many children, physical activity can help them organize and regulate themselves. Often a little running, jumping, yoga, or dancing can result in an improved mood.

2. Music: Calming music can be relaxing for both children and adults. Explore how music may influence your child’s emotional state.

3. Coloring: I’ve worked with several children who soothe themselves by coloring. You can observe their body tone soften just by the act of coloring.

4. Creative activities: For other children coloring might not have any effect on their mood or tone, but perhaps a more creative activity might. Drawing, painting, building, or pretending can be important outlets of expression as well as ways of organizing and calming the mind and body.

5. Reading: If reading is not a struggle or an emotionally-charged activity, it can be a very calming activity for many. If your child is not old enough to read on his own and does not enjoy looking at books by himself, then reading a book together, could be a shared activity that he finds soothing.

6. Cooking together: This can be not only a fun way to connect with your child, but also a way to teach your child valuable cooking skills and healthy eating habits.

7. Calming down space: Rather than a time-out space to go after some mis-behavior, children can also benefit from a designated space to go to calm down and reorganize themselves before they hit that point of no-return. You can designate a corner of a room, a soft, comfy chair, or even an indoor tent as a special quiet space for this purpose.

8. TV/movies: While you have to be careful about over-use, they definitely have their place in helping children calm themselves.

9. Play dough: One of my personal favorites! Playing with play dough offers both a creative outlet and a motor activity combined into one. Many a mood has been improved after a little time with dough.

10. Touch: Maybe the most obvious and potentially quickest fix when your child is upset. Hugs, kisses and back rubs can often do the trick for many children. Other children may respond better to deeper pressure or brushing techniques which may require some instruction from an occupational therapist to be used effectively.

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You’ve probably heard that the first lady is taking on childhood obesity. On Tuesday she announced the development of a task force that will engage both private and public sectors to solve the childhood obesity problem in a generation.

The areas of focus include: helping parents make healthier food choices, making schools a healthier environment, increasing physical activity and making healthy food more accessable. In 90 days this task force will develop and announce a plan of action. I’ll be sure to keep you updated. For more on this, see Let’s Move.

There are some changes that will take place immediately. The American Academy of Pediatrics is joining the cause by enouraging pediatricians to keep a close eye on the BMIs (body mass index) of children. So if there’s a problem they will let you know.

But there is a part of me that is worried that some negatives may come out of all this attention on weight. So I jotted some of my concerns down just in case Michelle Obama — or her task force members– runs across my blog.

1. It’ll take more than healthy eating: Whenever I see a story on fighting obesity, it’s always talks about getting kids and adults to eat “healthier.” There is not a parent alive who doesn’t know that eating more fruits and vegetables is good for their children. So if pediatricians just spout of the same old advice, parents will still face the same barriers they had before, whether it’s getting kids to eat fruits and veggies or finding the time to prepare them.

But what if pediatricians asked families to change how they eat? Isn’t this what has really changed over the last 40 years? We no longer make feeding ourselves — and our families — a priority. Telling parents to start by having regular meals and snacks at the kitchen table is a great start. They can gradually add more variety including fruits and veggies.

But if children continue to graze on food, eat while watching TV, or are allowed to grab food out of the cupboard when they are bored, they are much more likely to get more calories than their bodies need. And why should we wait for a high BMI to give this advice?

2. Keep a watchful eye on eating disorders: According to The Alliance of Eating Disorders Awareness, eating disorders affect 24 million Americans. Young women with an eating disorder are 12 times more likely to die than other women their age. The most common behavior that leads to an eating disorder is dieting. Fifty-one percent of 9 and 10- year olds feel better when on a diet and 42% of 1st and 3rd grade girls want to be thin.

So very young children already have a desire to be thin. We need to watch the way we talk to our children and let them know that health is most important, not looks or weight. Pediatricians also need to be careful in how they relate messages when they find a child is overweight. I will be running an eating disorder prevention series this month to discuss ways parents can help prevent eating disorders in their children so stay tuned.

3. Size discrimination is a problem: The last acceptable form of prejudice is size discrimination. This movement could make people even more critical of those who carry excess weight. We need to educate our children that people come in all shapes and sizes. While BMI can be a helpful tool, some kids may be considered overweight but still be healthy because they are naturally bigger. Just the way some children fall off the growth charts because they are small. What we want to avoid is kids gaining an unnatural amount of weight for their body type.

4. Restrictive feeding practices don’t work with kids: With more pediatricians telling parents their children have a weight problem, some parents may start restricting their kids’ eating, which is really a form of dieting. Research shows such practices backfire, making children more likely to overeat and gain weight.

Encouraging healthy behaviors for the whole family is vital. Singling out an overweight child can do long-term damage to their self esteem, make them obsess about food and increase their risk of developing an eating disorder. All members of the family benefit from healthy habits, whether or not they carry excess weight.

So that’s it. Just some thoughts I wanted to get out there. Now I feel better.

What do you think about all this? Any solutions you want Michelle Obama to know about?

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I have two good reasons to write about weight today. First, it is Healthy Weight Week and second, new obesity statistics (childhood and adult) have been released.  And I want my readers to be in the know.

Obesity statistics published in the Journal of the American Medical Association have been updated to account for the decade that just ended.  Drum roll please… 

There was no change.  Children (except the heaviest boys from 6-19 years old) and adult women had no real increase while men’s numbers went up but from 2003 onward this wasn’t significant.  Still, almost 7 out of 10 adults (68%) are either overweight or obese.  So while the numbers haven’t gone up, most health professionals prefer they go down.   

At the same time these statistics were splattered all over the news, another interesting research study was reported.  According to a study in the Journal of Preventative Medicine, women who have had children are at the highest risk for weight gain over time.  The researchers studied 6478 Australian women and found that over ten years the women without children or a partner gained 11 pounds, those with a partner gained 15 pounds, and with a partner and a child gained 20. 

According to the International Food and Information Council, in the last decade media stories on obesity have skyrocketed.  I often wonder what effect this news really has on people.  Does hearing about weight make them want to jump on the treadmill or give up in defeat?

And if you have an overweight child, how does this news sit with you?  Will you be tempted to restrict your child’s intake?  Take away all his sweets?  All of which are things that backfire.

Clients have always told me “I know what to do, I just don’t do it.”  And this makes them feel bad, lazy even, for not doing what they think they should do.  (For a great reason not to “should” yourself see this article!)

But I think the key is identifying and removing obstacles – real and perceived.  Yes, those of us married with children are more at risk to gain weight.  We are so busy with children and responsibilities that we tend to put ourselves on the back burner.  But there’s so much we can do to help ourselves and our kids if we learned how to look at things differently.

Many of you said time was your major barrier to taking care of your own health.  So stay tuned for tips on how to remove barriers, save time and prove that being married with children does not make unnecessary weight gain inevitable.

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References

Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Curtin LR, Lamb MM, Flegal KM. Prevalence of high body mass Index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008. JAMA. 2010;303(3):242-249.

Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Curtin LR. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008. JAMA. 2010;303(3):235-241.

Brown WJ, Hockey R, Dobson AJ. Effects of having a baby on weight gain. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(2): 163-170.

I’ve been asked to do a teleclass for Parenting Powers. The call will take place on Tuesday, January 12th at 5pm PST (8pm EST). I will be discussing 5 easy ways parents can help prevent unnecessary weight gain in their kids. You have to be a member of Parenting Powers to join the call (it’s $9.95 to join). So if you’re interested, find out more here!