So we all know that childhood obesity is on the rise, and the parents are getting whacked with the blame stick, but is it more to that than just the parents? I know here, in children's shows there is a ban on unhealthy junk food advertising. But I do believe that it does come down to the parent to set a good example for their children, because monkey see monkey do. The parents know what to give their children, nutritionally wise, and what not to give them, but because the parents themselves are stuck in a pattern of having high fat/calorie/carb/sodium diet, the kids want in because veggies don't cut the same taste and the quick fix to energy as to what the parents have. I may be wrong using that as an example, but it still comes back to the parents responsibility to what goes in their children's mouth.
Of course it's the parents' fault. No matter how much terrible advertising the kids take in, it's up to the parents to feed them. Unless the kids have their own money and are going out to buy their own food. But I'm not going to call it child abuse. What about the parents that don't educate their kids about drugs or sex? Those kids can also end up on a less than ideal path of life. Yeah, it's bad parenting, but it's not abuse. People just need to be smarter in general and there would be less problems like this.
No, you're right. What you are saying is true. It sad to see parents give into the negatively selfish desires of their children. Parents need to communicate where the power base is, and not give it away. Yea, I believe in treats now and then, but it has to be for celebration, rewards, and other occasions. Yes, it really has to start with the education system and other sources of information that influence the many aspects of future generations such as: decision-making, ethics building, and the overall happiness levels of individuals learning. It has to start now. People are becoming more health-conscious, but for a lot of people its just too late. We are at a point in time in our history when we can make powerful short-term and long-term changes in our behaviours. Healthy-active living is one valuable concept that we can do that can make life better for ourselves and others. One could say that giving them "what they want" all the time is a form of abuse. Its not the right thing to do and the consequences of that will lead to problems later on. Education and experience for parents is necessary to help their family grow for the better. The sad thing is this, many of the problems that society faces nowadays are linked together and in order for one door to open another must be closed. Parents can close the door to "giving whatever a child desires", and say NO. Big No. It's a BIG NO for the better. A professor said it to my former classmates best when he spoke from parenting experience. "Sometimes we've got to say NO." Parents will probably have to deal with kids having temper tantrums and other costs, but that pain will be minuscule when contrasted to the gains of a healthy family.
The one thing that I've noticed that irks me...is when I see a parent shopping at the grocery store and to keep their kid quiet so they can talk on their cell phone...they shove food at them. And it's not like a few grapes or whatever it's cookies and chips.
Honestly, in my opinion, It isn't up to anyone except the parents to teach them and model the diet they should be eatting. If you honest-to-god want your kid to be eatting healthy, then you yourself must eat healthy and enjoy it. If you eat a sweet apple and a child eats and shares that same happy sweet tasting apple, your child will enjoy it. If you eat a cookie and enjoy it, and share it with your child, your child will want a cookie so it can share the taste and joy of eatting a cookie. The best way for a child to want (As in intrinsicly ) want to eat healthy food is to do the same yourself. If you want to encourage your child to go outside and play, then you yourself take the child out to the park and play, or something. But the problem, deep down, I think is that people Want to do these good things. Like cut an apple, or cook a hot, lovely dinner for their child. But people are busy, and don't have time, or they're too lazy themselves to put in the effort. If it ever was an educational issue, the simpliest and most effective thing to tell a person is to say "Eat a few fruits and veggies a day, a cup of rice (Or whatever choice of carb, e,g Bread, pasta, etc..) or so, a bit of meat and then after they're done eatting, have them go play." It covers just about everything a child needs to grow well. Again, people Want to do these things, but they lack the time to put in the effort. ------ TL;DR. Just slice an apple for your child, or peel an orange or something sweet for your kid instead of getting a soda, or chips. Go the extra mile: Make a hot dinner for your child, prepare a small lunch , and get ready a breakfast. It might take time, but you know... your child is worth your time, and every parent knows this deep down.
Healthy eating starts from the home, not from the television. Sure, the kid will throw a tantrum about what he can have or not have, but the decision ultimately comes from the parents.
Honestly, the fault to blame is restaurants. What does a "small" size even mean anymore? I've ordered a small pop that requires 2 hands to carry. Proportions are getting too big. That's not anything parents can control. And when you order something, it's only natural to clean your plate. Restaurants need to stop giving us such big quantities of food.
Or better yet, don't take them to the fast food restaurants at all. Now for me, I don't think it's a bad thing to give your child a cookie every once in awhile, just as long as you don't overdo it like some parents do. It's mainly a control thing with the parents.
As long as you get all of the necessary food for the day, eat whatever the hell else you want as long as you're staying in decent form. I wouldn't care if my kid at a whole thing of Oreo's as long as he's had his 2k calories of healthy, nutritious food and he's staying in shape. Game on.