Today’s topic is for parents of children of every age. We are going to be talking about the exciting and controversial world of highly processed foods. Why we have them, what they are made out of, and what they do in the human body compared to unprocessed foods. So whether you have a 6 month old who you want to introduce their first solid foods, or if you’re tackling the issues of a toddler who is a picky eater, or are trying to find interesting foods to pack in your kiddo’s lunchboxes, or have teens with ravenous appetites, today’s talk will give you more information to make the right choices for your family.

In my time working with parents, a lot of parents have asked if their child is getting enough exercise.

It’s a real and honest question in today’s busy life. Everyone knows exercise is great for weight management, strong bones and muscles, good posture, and heart health. Everyone also knows that exercise is good for our bodies and minds. However, it can be hard to carve out time for exercise, especially when our kids are so busy with school, clubs, and activities. It can be even more difficult to determine how much exercise a child needs to stay healthy when they have so many different activities running simultaneously. The good news is, there are resources available to help parents know how much exercise is needed as well as what type. Together, this helps families create an environment where children are entertained and having fun while getting their appropriate amount of exercise.

Sadly, marketing to children is not limited to just toys or activities anymore. Food manufactures have made children the target of heavy media advertising for nefarious foods. More than half of the foods that are advertised on television to children do not meet government nutritional guidelines.

In an age where most western societies are battling to change the trend in overweight and obese children, this is a concerning issue for many reasons. First, children don’t fully understand what a balance diet consists of and therefore want the bright colored, playful food products they see. And second, the advertising is purposely placed where it will have the most impact - during children’s programming or on channels designed for children.

While we as parents can’t do much about what is advertised, there are ways that we can help reduce the influence of marketing and lower our children’s demands for foods with low nutritional quality.