| It's no secret that our generation has become a fast | | | | of potato chips and cookies you purchase. Most |
| food society. | | | | adults as well as children love snacks such as chips |
| If we don't feel like cooking or have a long day at | | | | but we also tend to gorge ourselves on these items. |
| work, we order pizza or some other take out meal. | | | | We can set good eating habits for our children by |
| Lunch hours don't give us much time for nourishment. | | | | practicing proper nutrition ourselves. Parents can |
| The choices are minimal when we have to choose a | | | | become so concerned with making sure their children |
| meal from a vending machine. We usually have | | | | are eating enough that nutrient rich food may get |
| options that are far from appetizing. Such options | | | | overshadowed by empty calories. Such an oversight |
| usually include lunchmeat sandwiched between two | | | | is not intentional but more likely the result of hectic |
| slices of bread that is similar to cardboard or | | | | lifestyles, demanding work schedules and society in |
| microwavable noodles that are more rubbery than a | | | | general. In order to live up to today's standards both |
| bouncy ball. If you choose to forego the vending | | | | financially and societal, many people have become |
| machine then you probably end up dashing over to | | | | workaholics out of necessity. In a majority of families |
| the closest fast food restaurant where you quickly | | | | both parents work full-time jobs and juggle a variety |
| inhale the usual burger and fries. Your taste buds | | | | of household chores. Conveniences that are time |
| may be content momentarily but your digestive | | | | saving and make life easier are welcomed. |
| system probably isn't too happy. There's nothing | | | | Television bombards us with dozens of fast food and |
| wrong with fast food once in awhile but | | | | junk food commercials every day that make it |
| unfortunately for some people it becomes a way of | | | | difficult to resist succumbing to the ease of a fast |
| life. | | | | food restaurant or pizza delivery. As mentioned |
| We are seeing more obesity in children at younger | | | | previously, fast food is fine as long as it doesn't |
| ages. The rise in childhood obesity has been steadily | | | | become the main staple of nutrition. Children need |
| climbing in recent years. Children eat more fast food | | | | more than burgers, fries and pizza and snacks don't |
| meals as well as junk food for snacks. It seems as if | | | | always have to mean cookies and chips. Make your |
| children don't get much exercise these days either. | | | | child's meal a well-rounded eating experience. Try to |
| They spend hours in front of the television playing | | | | gradually introduce your child to new foods by using |
| video games, talking on the phone or spending time | | | | different recipes and buying food items you usually |
| on the computer. They don't spend nearly as much | | | | don't purchase. Many children are not eager to try |
| time outside running and playing physical games or | | | | new foods and will insist that they don't like certain |
| sports as children did in the past. This makes healthy | | | | foods although they've never tried them. Be creative; |
| eating that much more important. Lack of exercise | | | | create your own recipes. Your kids will be amazed at |
| and fast food feeding are definitely not a healthy | | | | what you can come up with and so will you. The kids |
| combination. | | | | may have some ideas of their own too. Eat healthy |
| You can break the fast food habit without eliminating | | | | and have some fun doing it. |
| fast food from your family's diet entirely. Limit fast | | | | When you're ready to get out of the kitchen, spend |
| food. If you don't have time to cook dinner every | | | | some time outdoors and take the kids with you. |
| night, cook when you have time and freeze meals | | | | There are plenty of outdoor activities for every |
| for use when you can't be home or are too busy to | | | | season of the year. They might actually enjoying |
| prepare a meal. When shopping for groceries buy | | | | spending some time away from the television and |
| more fresh fruit and healthy snacks. Limit the amount | | | | video games. |