Remember the days when, in most families,
you weren't allowed to leave the dinner table until you finished all the food
on your plate? That rule has disappeared
in many settings, possibly because portion control has been pushed to the front
burner in the fight against childhood obesity.
But a new study raises some interesting questions about who's portion
decision really matters at the family supper table.
Kids Eat More When Parents Eat More
A new study released in the Journal of
Clinical Nutrition evaluated the eating habits of parents and children.
Specifically, researchers wanted to see if the amount of food that children
consumed was affected by the amount of food that parents served themselves. Not
surprisingly, study authors found that kids were likely to eat larger portions
if parents served themselves larger portions.
Raise Healthier Kids
If you've been a parent for more than a
minute, the study findings won't surprise you.
Kids model their parents behavior.
But the research serves as a reminder that it's not just what we eat
that we need to be mindful of, but also how much we eat that matters. If we
want to raise healthy kids, we need to teach them how to exercise moderation
when serving themselves food portions at mealtime and throughout the day.
Avoid Portion Size Mistakes
There are a few different ways to be more
mindful of your own portion control habits in the home. The first step is to understand serving
size. This handy reference can serve as
a guide for how much food you should eat at each sitting. There are also some foods we are more likely
to overeat - like cereal. Find out what
they are and measure them if necessary so you don't eat too much. And if your family is trying to lose weight,
consider the Lifesize Portions system. I reviewed the product last year and
really liked it because it's a great way to make sure you're not eating too
much food during any meal or snack.
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