Feeding Kids Right

Nutritionist Elisa Zied On Keeping Children At Healthy Weights

(CBS)  The number of overweight children and teenagers has more than tripled in the last 25 years. They are at higher risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other problems.

Registered dietician Elisa Zied, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, has advice to turn the trend around in her new book, "Feed Your Family Right."

On The Early Show Monday, Zied began a three-part series on food and families with a look at keeping kids at healthy weights.

Zied told Tracy Smith the book had its roots in her high school years, when she was 30 pounds heavier than she it now and her weight was always fluctuating.

"My family struggled with our weight," Zied recalled, "and now, as a mother of two, I realize how tough it is to raise healthy children.

"But … there is hope, and there are so many things parents can do to help their kids. For example, my son, Spencer, my older son, last week came home and he said, 'Mom, I tried a french fry at school and I really didn't like it, so I said, 'Why am I going to waste my calories?

"I was so proud. I always tell him to make his calories count, not waste them on things he doesn't enjoy."

Zied's book focuses on the whole family because, she said, "You really can't focus on an individual to help them lose weight if you're not tackling all of the issues that go on as a family, whether you have food pushers, food cops, relentless ranters — people who are always looking at what you're eating — if you don't address all these issues, it's really hard for people to make changes as individuals and maintain those changes long-term."

Zied offered tips for parents.

First, keep a journal, track what and how much you're eating, how often you eat, what's missing in your diet, and what you may be over-consuming.

"It's really, really important to sort of take an inventory of what you're doing," Zied explained. "You only need to keep a food record for about three days or so. You could do it on your laptop, your PDA, you could do it in a simple notebook. Parents and older kids, if they want to participate, can also do this, because once you see what you're doing now, you can fine tune it, make small changes."

Her next tip is to set realistic goals.

"Realistically," Zied said, " … individuals in (a) family may never be thin, but you can be healthier. And you really need to think about not being perfect and not banning things, but incorporating lots of healthy foods. … If you set up your family and your home and your kitchen to encourage … healthy behaviors and minimize things like sugary drinks and other things that don't really contribute to nutrition, you're keeping it positive and you're making it more realistic that you can get these healthy foods in every day."

Another tip? Plan meals.

"Absolutely," Zied emphasized. "But you need to plan in advance, maybe on a Saturday or Sunday. Plan your grocery list. Plan a few meals everyone in your family would enjoy. And this is giving you an arsenal against driving through the fast food restaurant or grabbing takeout, which is such an easy, mindless thing to do. Take control."

Finally, Zied suggested setting a good example and eating together as a family.

"This is something that you really need to do," Zied stressed. "Turn off the TV. Focus on your family. Eat in front of your kids. Talk positively about food, not negatively, and show them by your example. And you'll see that your kids will start to follow by your example and eat a lot of the healthy foods and be feeling good about themselves."

To read an excerpt of "Feed Your Family Right," click here.

[bedo6]

My parents taught me old school philosophy of maintaining a home on a very tight budget. I integrated this philosophy into my own family life and into a successful restaurant business of 30 years. My husband and children always ate healthy (not out of boxes or cans). This may sound idealistic and even unrealistic for today%u2019s life style, but it is possible%u2014it%u2019s just a matter of re-setting priorities.
Society is searching for quick, easy, healthy and tasty answers for dinner; going back to basics may be the answer. In fact, it simplifies the process of shopping, cooking, and serving the meal. Its not only a lifestyle change, it%u2019s a change of direction, a relational change between the cook, food, and the family. Old world grass roots cooking saves time and money%u2014basic foods such as legumes, seasonal fruits and vegetables, whole grain, some meat and dairy are not only dollar servers but can be prepared to please any palate. I do not limit any food group; I just use %u2018real%u2019 healthy ingredients. Preparing and sitting down to meals together is very bonding even for the busiest of families. My children plan their daily schedules to eat together in the evenings. Their friends frequent our home, hungry for %u201Creal food%u201D and wanting to learn what I cook. Cooking can be a vehicle in not only keeping family recipes and stories alive, but also promotes a more simple and well-paced lifestyle.
lisa bedrossian

[lonestartnow]

Since I haven't seen all 3 parts of the series some of this may be covered. I agree it's important to develop healthier nutritional habits--kids and adults alike. "Feeding your family right," should not be just about what to feed them, but also about why and how much. When more than 60 percent of our population is overweight or obese, it's an issue we all need to be aware of, keeping the children at a healthy weight--and getting the adults there as well.