Life’s sweets and spices

You know how important getting enough sleep for your child is.  It helps him function well the next day.  Sleep is just as important as food because it is essential for proper mind and body development.  But here’s another reason why you should tuck him in on time.  A good night;s sleep may help your kid stay trim as an adult.  According to studies, children ages five to eleven who sleeps less than 11 hours nightly are more likely to be obese adults than children who get more zzzs.  So make sure your kids get enough sleep to keep obesity at bay. 

Rigorous exercise and calorie restriction are not the only things proven to help children maintain a healthy weight.  There are some tricks you can use to get them slim down without even knowing they are on a plan.  Nagging them about their weight and making them feel self-conscious won’t help, it will only frsutrate them.  Here are some easy tricks you can use.

Give them milk instead of juice.  Kids burn 50 extra calories every day when their daily diet includes three cups of low-fat milk.  The credit goes to milk’s calcium and amino acids that slow internal production of parathyroid hormone and calcitriol, chemical messengers that speed the formation of body fat.  If your child dislikes taking plain milk, stir in a teaspoon of chocolate or strawberry syrup.  Researchers also found that drinking flavored milk spurs kids to subconsciously cut back on their sweets.

Make sure they get the sleep they need.  Sleeping less than eight hours per night triples the child’s risk of developing weight problems.  Sleep deprivation disrupts blood sugar, triggering powerful cravings.