Letters to the Editor
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Balance is the key
This is a very timely subject with so many obese kids today. I am a registered dietitian with 2 children. Do my kids eat perfectly? No. Do they understand that some foods are healthier than others and that all foods can fit into a healthy diet plan? I'd like to think so, but we'll have to wait a few years to know for sure. A quote I have always remembered and share often with my clients came from a conference I attended years ago. It is the philosophy of Ellyn Satter (a dietitian and social worker). She states that it is the parent's job to supply a well rounded diet. It is the child's job to eat it, or not. That's right, no short order cooking or substitutions. Kids won't starve to death with a missed meal or two. Her books provide much more detail and are well worth reading. The long term benefit of this appoach is a tolerance for most foods and the elimination of meal time as a battle ground. Balanced nutrition and a healthy attitude regarding all foods is vital. Many people I see don't get the direct relationship between food and health. We will do our kids a great service if we help them see that (in a non-threatening way, of course). BTW did you know that 6 out of the top 10 causes of death in our country are diet and lifestyle related?