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Holiday Eating: A 10-Point Healthy Eating Plan
for School-Age Children and their families
Holiday eating can pose a big problem for American families
with school-age children. With the wider selection of foods,
larger portions and more opportunity to eat during the Holidays,
helping children not overeat and exercise good eating habits
can be a tremendous challenge.
(Alexandria, VA - December 14, 2004) With families and, especially
children, celebrating the month-long holiday season now through
Christmas and New Year, poor eating habits can quickly become
an unwanted part of family life. What better time than the
holidays to make healthy eating a family affair?
The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
is offering a 10-point family eating plan, which focuses on
the dietary habits of the school-age children and their families
during the Holiday Season.
Bonus Tip: Do not starve yourself or let
your family go without eating all day and then sit down to
a huge meal where overeating is the result!
Here are 10 Holiday Eating Tips from members of AAFCS:
1. Parents
should be a positive role model
a. limit portion sizes—do sample
all the Holiday meal and trimmings, but in small portions
b. cook with less fat
2. Get active
a. plan family activities to get everyone
moving
b. encourage fun activities with friends
3. Make eating
an activity in itself
a. don't eat while watching TV or riding
in car
b. sit down in the kitchen/dining room
as a family
c. involve kids in menu choices, prep,
and clean up
4. Don't use
food as a reward or punishment
a. spend quality time with kids
b. celebrate by doing something fun together
c. don't withhold food as punishment
5. Watch what
your kids drink too
a. limit fruit juice to 12 oz. per day
or less
b. don't allow empty calories like sodas,
even diet soda
c. encourage drinking of low fat milk
6.
Don't be too restrictive
a. limit, don't eliminate sweets during
the Holidays
b. don't put kids on a diet unless recommended
by a physician
7. Limit television,
video and computer time
a. reduce TV time to 2 hours per day
b. do not allow TV in kids' bedrooms
8. Focus on
positive goals during the Holidays
a. run laps with classmates, friends
and family or bike for 20 minutes without getting tired
b. minimize number of hours spent playing
computer games, emailing, instant messaging, etc.
c. encourage some activity such as stretching
while watching TV instead of snacking
9. Take
small steps as a family.
a. substitute fruit for dessert
b. park your car farther away from your
destination
c. limit fast food
d. take a family walk
10.
Follow Dietary Guidelines and consult professionals as needed
About AAFCS and Obtaining Quotes/Interviews
Founded in 1909, AAFCS is the only not-for-profit 501 (c)(3)
organization dedicated to bringing people together to improve
the lives of individuals, families, and communities. AAFCS’
more than 10,000 members are elementary, secondary, and post-secondary
educators, researchers, and administrators, cooperative extension
educators, and other professionals in business and industry,
not-for-profit organizations, and government.
These professionals develop, integrate, and provide practical
knowledge about life skills— dietetics and nutrition,
financial literacy; child care and parenting; conflict resolution;
consumer education; safe and secure housing and environment;
and apparel and textiles. For complete results and Quotes,
please contact Linda Wilson using the contact information
at the end of this release. Interviews with AAFCS teachers
may be arranged through Linda Wilson or her staff.
Access the AAFCS Electronic Press Kit: http://www.aafcs.org/newsroom/epk/newsletter.htm
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