Today children are growing up thinking food grows in cold bins at the supermarket. They pick cereals by the toy in the box rather than the taste or nutritional value. Children are tantalized by larger than life pictures of food in magazines and larger than needed portions in fast food restaurants.

Our children eat too much of the wrong foods, not enough of the right foods and are developing medical risk factors. Pediatricians are finding high blood pressure, increased diabetes and high cholesterol in our children. Poor diet and childhood obesity are a growing health concern.

There are steps parents and providers can take to address these issues and improve children’s health:
• Speak to school personnel or other parents to start a conversation about the food options your children have.
• Pay careful attention to the food in your house. Instead of routinely buying sweet treats at the market, make baking a cake a family activity.
• Help your child become a smart consumer by reading labels and nutrient contents of different foods.
• Use fruit and vegetables as snacks by leaving them out on the table instead of sweets.
• Introduce your children to the idea of a "salad course" for dinner.
• Check out the library or pediatric clinic for handouts and brochures on eating better.
• Build in activity time. Get children to help you as part of a chore time. Do chores (sweeping, washing, dusting, etc.) to great music as part of a family workout.
• Monitor the messages your children receive about food. Consider cutting down on TV time.