Monkey See, Monkey Do!

As parents, sometimes we forget how closely our kids watch and learn from us. Case in point, it was recently discovered that girls can incur their mother's unhealthy dieting obsession! An ongoing study of 5,331 girls and 3,881 boys showed that, unintentionally, mothers may pass their preoccupation with size, weight and body image on to their kids, and more likely to their daughters.
Learning how to live a healthier lifestyle definitely begins at home.

Here are some suggestions:

Keep high-sugar drinks out of the house. Encourage more water!
Don't talk about feeling fat or looking fat in front of your kids.
Limit portion sizes for the whole family.
Don't constantly talk about losing weight -- it will simply encourage your kids to follow suit versus teaching them about healthier ways to eat.
If your child is overweight, speak to your pediatrician about healthy alternatives or perhaps a reputable dietitian in the area.
Be active with your children!
Talk to your children about healthy body image.
Talk about unrealistic expectations and help them separate fantasy from reality. Many girls look to movie stars and runway models as role models. They need to know that’s not realistic and often times not healthy. The bottom line is to be a good role model for your children. Support your actions by keeping healthy foods in the home and encouraging activity as a family!