SKYE'S KIDS TRIBE | skyes1tribe

Young people are gaining weight more rapidly than ever before. It is predicted that very soon one in three adults will be obese. Some staggering facts about Obesity

Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980.
In 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese.
39% of adults aged 18 years and over were overweight in 2014, and 13% were obese.
Most of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
41 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2014.
Obesity is preventable

OBESITY IS PREVENTABLE!!!!!

Following a healthy lifestyle can help you prevent overweight and obesity. Many lifestyle habits begin during childhood. Thus, parents and families should encourage their children to make healthy choices, such as following a healthy diet and being physically active.

Make following a healthy lifestyle a family goal. For example:

Follow a healthy eating plan. Make healthy food choices, keep your calorie needs and your family's calorie needs in mind, and focus on the balance of energy IN and energy OUT
Focus on portion size. Watch the portion sizes in fast food and other restaurants. The portions served often are enough for two or three people. Children's portion sizes should be smaller than those for adults. Cutting back on portion size will help you balance energy IN and energy OUT.
Be active. Make personal and family time active. Find activities that everyone will enjoy. For example, go for a brisk walk, bike or rollerblade, or train together for a walk or run.
Reduce screen time. Limit the use of TVs, computers, DVDs, and videogames because they limit time for physical activity. Health experts recommend 2 hours or less a day of screen time that's not work- or homework-related.
Keep track of your weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. Also, keep track of your children's growth.

I am very passionate about kids health and nutrition. Since becoming aware of my own nutritional needs being an athlete, I began to take interest in how I am feeding Lily in terms of her sport also. Introduced this year was her netball, going to athletics and also squad swimming. So I knew that her protein needed to increase for muscle repair and also carbs for energy. In comes the cooked breakfast for my little athlete each morning, especially on swimming mornings when I am sure she could eat an entire leg of lamb. With my diet in prep, Lily doesn't miss out on her food needs and I make this easy by making large casseroles and pasta sauces that can be frozen and taken out each week.

Still, she is allowed treats and is allowed to be a child, however she has the understanding that these things are "sometimes foods". Yes, we eat burgers, however they aren't fast food chain burgers with sugary buns, they are burgers made from fresh ingredients and mostly organic meats. And these occasions are limited. Eating out, Lily has learnt to appreciate fresh foods in Vegan cafes all over Sydney, with whoopi pies that are made from sweet potato and donuts made from dates. She eats this way as she has been exposed to these foods, and never offered anything else if she doesn't eat her meal. Children will only adopt habits, from what you the parent teach them. I love that she screws her nose up at the offer of McDonalds and will ask to go to Bondi Wholefoods instead.

Our lifestyle is VERY active, so again ensuring she is eating plentiful fresh produce to keep up her energy physically, but also mentally. It is important to understand that nutrition plays a large role in our mental health, our learning and all over cognitive function. Essential fatty acids from Salmon for example have been proven in studies to lift the IQ in children dramatically, as has the addition of vitamin C. The more I investigate and read on this, the more passionate I become about helping parents with meals for their children.

Lily and I are on dynamic duo, athletic in every sense and ever so passionate about food, living life, and just getting out into the great outdoors and enjoying those Australian blue skies and golden sands. This is where mindfullness comes full circle. Good Food. Good Mood. Be mindful of what goes on your plates, and what you are teaching your children about their attitude to their food. Is meal time seen as a chore to you, then thats how they will view it. Food should be viewed as nourishment, that fuels your body, and not something we reward ourselves with, or treat as a last priority. We as a nation spend so much money on sickness, however if the focus became on health, those medical costs would cease.

Lily and I have not been six in 12 months. Good Nutrition....Positive Thinking....and Keeping Active.