New Year’s Resolutions for Children

The New Year has just begun and everyone is making the same resolution they do
every year – for their family to eat healthy and exercise.  How many times have you made that resolution and not followed through with it for the year?  Most people give up on their resolutions by February.  There are a few ways you make sure your family sticks to the resolution this year.

• Family Bonding:
  Have a family meeting to discuss that you would like everyone to focus on their health this year.  If everyone is on board to eat healthier, whether or not they are trying to lose weight, it will make it easier for those who are trying to lose weight.  When your family members order a healthy meal when eating out, it will help the others resist temptation and not order an
  unhealthy meal or to order a dessert.
• Eating In: Choosing to eat at home will help keep your family on the right track.  Most meals ordered from a restaurant are filled with fat and calories and contain larger than necessary portion sizes.  By eating in, you can assure that your meals are healthy and within one serving size.
• Snack Attack: Cravings and hunger between meals are often the cause of weight gain for most people.  By keeping healthy, but fun, snacks in your home, your family will resist temptations and enjoy themselves at the same time.  Some fun ideas are tortilla chips with salsa, cut up vegetables with hummus, apple slices with peanut butter or popcorn.
• Together Time: Making a plan for your family to exercise together will keep everyone focused to reach their goal.  Whether you play soccer together outside or turn on some music and have a family dance party, as long as you are moving and keeping your heart rate up, you will burn calories and lose weight.

Dr. Jill Sharon, of Fresh Future Weight Management Program, is a Board Certified
Physician in Obesity Medicine.  She helps her patients achieve their weight loss goal through an individualized nutrition & fitness program. (732) 409-1446