How to Reduce an Overweight Child's Caloric Intake

The best way to help obese children regulate their weight is to cut the amount of calories they consume. Learn how to reduce an overweight child's caloric intake with these easy steps.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Don’t stock your shelves with junkie foods. Items like cookies, cakes and chips are laden with empty calories. To minimize a child's temptation to consume them, you should avoid bringing these types of foods into your home.

2. Eliminate fried foods. Things like fish, chicken, hamburgers and French fries taste just as delicious when they're prepared in the oven--and baking them dramatically reduces their calorie content.

3. Use smaller plates during mealtimes. Small plates have less room to house food, so using them is an excellent way to reduce the amount of calories that are consumed. If children are still hungry after they’ve finished their first helping, they can always ask for more.

4. Have fresh fruits and vegetables washed and readily available. When kids are hungry, they generally grab food items that are quick and convenient. If healthy foods are within reach, children will be more likely to snack on them.

5. Give children the opportunity to occasionally eat what they want. Letting children indulge in a slice of cake every once in a while is okay as long as it's done in moderation.

6. Get the entire family on board. A child won't be motivated to eat the right foods if he's forced to sit at the table watching his siblings gorge on pizza while he's grazing on broccoli spears and carrot sticks. If the entire family is involved in healthy eating, your child will be more motivated to continue enjoying low calorie meals.