Every year, the first Monday in October is observed as National Child Health Day. Unfortunately, one of the most serious health issues facing children in America is obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "The percentage of children aged 6-11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7 percent in 1980 to nearly 18 percent in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12-19 years who were obese increased from 5 percent to nearly 21 percent over the same period." Perhaps the most worrisome statistic, though, is this one: "In 2012, more than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese."
It is so important to teach our children the importance of healthy living. Many children have no idea where their food comes from. Many have never been to a farm or seen produce grown and cultivated first-hand. Many have no experience with vegetables and the preparation of unprocessed foods. Unfortunately, fast food is almost as a rule cheaper and more accessible than natural foods.
Plus, products and foods are often advertised as being "healthy," when in fact, they are full of calories, fat and preservatives. As consumers, we need to take control of our dietary choices. We need to read labels carefully, plan meals in advance and make our own dishes, instead of relying on prepared meals. We need to make better choices by educating ourselves about what is healthy and belongs at our dinner table and what does not. We need to involve our children in the process of selecting healthy foods so they can learn from our example. We need to make conscious healthy choices for ourselves, rather than relying on fast food restaurants to give us what they say is "good for us." We need to take control of what we give our children. It won't be easy but, for our children, it is more than worth it.
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