my daughter

Question
I have an almost 3 year old who is predisposed to obesity. Morbid obesity runs rampant in my husbands family. My daughter thinks about food constantly. She never gets full. She can eat 3 times as much as an adult and want more. I cannot even take her anywhere that has food, because she refuses to play. She wants to eat. She is not too overweight yet because we control her portions and try to keep food healthy since she eats so much. I can only control this for so long. Please guide me in the right direction of which foods are best in this situation. I am so depressed about this and we could all stand to lose weight.  

Answer
Hello Michelle,
You definitely want to act on this now!  You don't want to wait until she actually has a weight problem.  My first suggestion is to visit your daughters pediatrician to ensure there are no underlying problems for her appetite.  Secondly I would highly suggest visiting with a dietitian who specializes in children and/or children and obesity.  You can have your pediatrician refer you or you can look on www.eatright.org to find a dietitian in your area.  A dietitian can work with the entire family and guide you in the right direction.  It is not just about the "right" foods to eat but about looking at lifestyle habits, etc...  A dietitian can work with you on a more specific and individualized basis.  He/she can conduct an overall assessment of your daughter's eating habits as well as the family's so that they can pinpoint problems and help you work them out.  A dietitian can provide the education and guidance you need on an individualized basis.
Don't be depressed!  INSTEAD take action and do what you need to do to nip this situation before it becomes a problem.
Thank you,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net

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