From Vanessa, Child's Age 10 - 08/22/01 - IP#: 209.207.47.xxx  Click here to reply  
Hi i have a beautiful daughter who is 10 years old. She is 4 foot 7 and weighs 115#s. She gets teased sometimes at school and seems to be getting self concious about how she looks. She really does not like sports at school. We have been walking in the evenings.
I have talked to her about this and she said she wants to loose some weight. I am trying to cut her fat and sugar intake. I have decided not to have her eat hot lunches (I worked in a school cafeteria) instead i pack her lunch. Any one have any great healthy sandwich ideas? Nicole is so beautiful i don't want her weight to become a big part of her life. I want to teach her to make healthy food choices. I have been doing alot of research about healthy eating. Any advice would be appreciated. God Bless Vanessa
Reply from Sue, Child's Age 12 - 09/02/01  - IP#: 62.64.191.xxx
Vanessa,
It sounds like you are already doing all the right things for your daughter. I know exactly what you mean about it not wanting to become a big part of her life. There is a thin line to be drawn between making a child aware of healthy eating habits and them becoming so paranoid about food that they end up anorexic. School lunches were a problem in our case. My daughter was coming home having eaten chips and a cake! I too began packing her lunch instead. I bought lower calorie bread and filled it with low fat chicken pieces, which she loved. I also put in low calorie mousses and yoghurts plus fruit of course. I also found low fat crisps (potato chips).
My daughter was always on the chubby side and although she has now lost 22 pounds and only weighs 100 pounds, she still doesn't look thin, and nor would I want her to because at that age I too had a round face and put on weight easily. Some kids are naturally thin and others are naturally rounder. My daughter didn't get teased but we had many chats about how unhealthy it was to be so thin looking and that I would rather she was a bit rounder than too thin because that didn't look good.
I would just carry on doing what you are doing. She will lose weight gradually and that is probably the best way. If the weight isn't coming off then follow the advice I gave to Felicia above. Maybe at just 10 your doctor or nutrionist can best advise you how many calories your daughter should be eating. Also, remember that although your daughter sounds too young to be going through puberty, a lot of girls put on weight just before they start their periods or at around the age of 10 to 12 when their bodies are starting to change.
Good luck.