What's a good mealtime routine for my child?

Parents need to consistently control what and when their kids are eating. Kids usually come home, sit in front of the TV and snack. By the time the family could come together for dinner, many kids are so full of junk food that they have no appetite for "real" food. Later at night when the hunger returns, many kids are in the habit of late night eating that sets them up for a lifetime of weight challenges. Children can learn to eat better when they are fed consistently, just like when they were babies! By providing healthy, easy options for meals and snacks throughout the day you ensure that their blood sugar level stays steady, producing better moods, concentration and energy. Another culprit in the childhood obesity battle is the fact that many kids don’t eat together at a table or as a family. Bringing order to mealtime madness helps to build intellectual skills that will translate to better academic achievement at school and in life. Create a clean place for your child to eat. That means no junk stacked on the dinner table. Insist that the family come together to eat most nights of the week – or at least once per week! This allows parents to communicate directly with their children, to find out what’s going on in their heads and hearts. Not only does eating together as a family help with maintaining a healthy weight, it promotes greater self-awareness and self-mastery.