Question

Question: Deborah of Nevada asks: We have recently become parents of a 10-year-old girl. Previously all she did was eat and watch tv. In the year that she has been with us her activity level has increased tremendously. However, her weight (113 lbs/4'8") has not been reduced. Her mother died of diabetes. Our child) only likes very limited food (most especially any "fast food".) We are very concerned about this. What can we feed her to help her grow healthy, be thinner, and start enjoying the kinds of foods we eat? We are at a total loss after one year.

Answer

You face a very difficult situation because you are dealing with food habits that have been present for 9 years. She is also entering the time (from 9-12) when many girls struggle with “chunky” as they have not yet reached their growth spurt. She is also reaching an age when soon many of the food decisions will be out of your control, so it is important not to make her feel like she is on a “diet” or “restricted” in what she can eat. You have made a great start by providing every opportunity to increase her activity level. I am sure she is interested in feeling fit and healthy so now is a great time to sit down and ask her to tell you her goals for being fit and healthy (notice …. I did not emphasize “thin” as some people’s gene’s will make it very difficult for them to reach a certain body shape … and we don’t want to create eating disorders). Ask her if she has any questions about the types of food that will help her reach those goals. Be as positive as you can in finding a few fruits, vegetables, and fat-controlled dairy products and lean sources of protein among the foods she likes. I realize this is just a starting point and it is way beyond this newsletter to provide a total solution. The important thing is to try and transfer to her the decision making as if you try to restrict food, you will create a closet eater and someone who will eat “out of control” when they feel no one is “watching”. Many Registered Dietitians work with children in a behavioral (versus a “diet”) program to help them make their own food choices. If you would like to do more reading on this approach, my favorite book on the subject is “How to get your kids to eat …. But not too much” by Ellyn Satter. Keep up the good work with providing lots of opportunities for activity and exposure to healthy food. It will help keep your entire family fit! Dr. Irene