According to the CDC, about one-third of American youth are overweight, contributing to a growing type 2 diabetes problem in children. However, you can help parents turn the tide with healthy food and lifestyle changes that are good for the whole family.
Take a family-centered approach.
A family-centered approach to preventing type 2 diabetes in children prioritizes culturally appropriate, lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising regularly is critical. Nutrition education should focus on healthy eating patterns that emphasize consumption of nutrient-dense foods and decreased consumption of calorie-dense foods, such as sugar-added beverages. Encouraging physical activity is also critical because being active helps decrease insulin resistance, controls blood pressure, and boosts mental health.
Family meal preparation tips that encourage healthy eating habits.
Challenge families to fill half their plate with fruits and vegetables.
Don’t assume parents understand this. Encourage them to approach meals by thinking about the veggies first, then adding protein or grain to go with it. It can be as easy as adding avocado and tomato to a sandwich or replacing the pasta in soup with vegetables.
Show them how to incorporate produce early in the day.
To get in the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, encourage families to start eating them early, with their morning meal. Tips include adding berries to cereal, avocado to a breakfast sandwich or toast, and vegetables to eggs.
Encourage family participation in the kitchen.
When children help out in the kitchen, they learn valuable life skills and become confident in their ability to prepare their own meals. Assign a family-style pasta salad recipe that incorporates vegetables in fun way kids will love. And be sure to engage older children in the menu planning process to teach them how to make smart choices and incorporate fruits and vegetables in every meal.
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