4 parenting tips to make sure your children don't overeat.

When we discover we are expecting, our lives center around ensuring our children receive adequate nutrition. We know and understand that our prenatal diet directly affects our children and could even predispose them to childhood obesity. But once our children are born, how can we ensure they do not overeat? You can do a few things to help keep your child from over-eating. 

When trying to teach children not to overeat, do your part to ensure they eat less. Understand that they will be filling up on something. But what can they possibly fill up on besides junk food?

1. Fill up on veggies.

Have you noticed how restaurants often give you a basket of bread before your meal arrives? If so, you’re very familiar with the satiated feeling of having noshed on that basket of bread. If you want your child to eat less, try using the same technique—only with vegetables. Before dinner, provide your children with some carrots and olives or a pre-dinner salad. If your children do not like raw vegetables, include some warm veggies with a special sauce in the dinner you prepare. Not only are you encouraging your child to eat healthier foods, but you’re also ensuring they do not overeat at dinner.

2. Water. Drink water.

By encouraging your children to drink plenty of water, you can be sure they don’t have the same cravings for junk food –or any food for that matter— they had before. To promote these positive routines, start a mobile chore chart to clearly state all your child's expected behaviors and allow them to earn fun prizes once they achieve these goals. 

3. Give them snacks.

Teaching our children to avoid consuming too much junk food is essential, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have snacks. Providing your child with healthy snacks throughout the day will keep the satisfied and prevent overeating at dinnertime. Something like almonds, grapes, cheese, crackers, or some carrots and ranch will give them the nutrients they need. And considering children often want junk food when they’re hungry, a healthy snack will help get them to eat less junk food.

4. Reward positive behavior.

Kids have difficulty seeing the long-term benefits of most positive actions, including eating well. What kids do recognize, however, are more immediate gratifications such as goodies and prizes. Help your child select that toy or gadget they’ve been begging for using your Wishfinity universal wish list. Sure, it’s the carrot-on-a-stick method, but carrots are healthy!