Tell me about Growing Lean’s food program
Find out here
How to Help My Teen Lose Weight
Many parents ask us, “How can I help my teen lose weight?”. The fact is that parents need to develop a multi-pronged strategy that emphasizes nutrition, portion control, and physical fitness while also serving as a role model for their kids. You cannot expect an overweight teen to commit to major lifestyle changes if the rest of the family is not committed with them. The Growing Lean behavioral and nutritional counseling programs and home-delivered food program are designed to enlist parent participation in their children’s weight loss battle. Several websites also provide information on enlisting parental support and participation
This website was produced by the American Council on Exercise, a non-profit organization devoted to physical fitness as one of the keys to a long and productive life. The link provided here leads you to a helpful article titled Kid’s Fitness…What’s a Parent To Do? by Debi Pillarella, M.Ed. She offers a straightforward assessment of children’s likes and dislikes regarding physical fitness for a variety of ages; she tells you “what’s hot and what’s not” while providing guidelines for when to offer your child more advanced forms of exercise, such as resistance training (answer: ages 10-12). She also warns adults to practice what they preach if they truly want to impact their children’s behavior: “Studies have shown that in households where parents were active, 95% of the children in those households were active as well.”
Showcasing how important fruits and vegetables are to maintaining good health as well as part of a weight loss program, this website by the Department of Health and Human Services offers a number of fun and useful features. One favorite element is the “fruit and vegetable of the month;” families can together commit to following and eating the different offerings throughout the year, adding zest and variety to their diet. The site also lists a number of tasty recipes as well as cooking tips so you can learn how to prepare fruits and vegetables in a manner that will make them appealing to even the pickiest children and teens. The authors remind you that “Fruits and vegetables come in terrific colors and flavors, but their real beauty lies in what's inside.”
This website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) features a number of tips to help parents manage their children’s diets. There is a detailed explanation of correct portion size for young children as well as a number of strategies for combating picky eaters. One of the best pieces of advice offered here is to get children involved in the selection and preparation of food, which will help them expand their palate. Remember, “Instead of rewarding your child with food, reward them with attention (hugs, kisses, and smiles) and playful activities.”
This website was produced by the American Council on Exercise, a non-profit organization devoted to physical fitness as one of the keys to a long and productive life. The link provided here leads you to a helpful article titled Kid’s Fitness…What’s a Parent To Do? by Debi Pillarella, M.Ed. She offers a straightforward assessment of children’s likes and dislikes regarding physical fitness for a variety of ages; she tells you “what’s hot and what’s not” while providing guidelines for when to offer your child more advanced forms of exercise, such as resistance training (answer: ages 10-12). She also warns adults to practice what they preach if they truly want to impact their children’s behavior: “Studies have shown that in households where parents were active, 95% of the children in those households were active as well.”
Showcasing how important fruits and vegetables are to maintaining good health as well as part of a weight loss program, this website by the Department of Health and Human Services offers a number of fun and useful features. One favorite element is the “fruit and vegetable of the month;” families can together commit to following and eating the different offerings throughout the year, adding zest and variety to their diet. The site also lists a number of tasty recipes as well as cooking tips so you can learn how to prepare fruits and vegetables in a manner that will make them appealing to even the pickiest children and teens. The authors remind you that “Fruits and vegetables come in terrific colors and flavors, but their real beauty lies in what's inside.”
This website maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) features a number of tips to help parents manage their children’s diets. There is a detailed explanation of correct portion size for young children as well as a number of strategies for combating picky eaters. One of the best pieces of advice offered here is to get children involved in the selection and preparation of food, which will help them expand their palate. Remember, “Instead of rewarding your child with food, reward them with attention (hugs, kisses, and smiles) and playful activities.”
