Advice for parents participating in the OurSkinny Weight Loss Program
It is hard enough to get your kids to eat breakfast. I am a parent of two boys who are now teenagers, and I have heard many creative, jaw dropping, bug-eyed reasons why they couldn’t or shouldn’t have to eat in the morning.
Mornings are a rush as it is, and then there are the multiple excuses: maybe you’ve got a picky eater, one who claims she’s not hungry in the morning, another who won’t eat cereal, or maybe they are overtired, or just plain stubborn… “Mooooom…. superheroes [quoting generically] don’t eat!”
…And then they see Mom or Dad get to drink a yummy chocolate shake for breakfast!
“Why can’t I have a chocolate shake, too?!”
It’s a fair question and you should know the answer – even if it’s not going to help convince your child to eat breakfast.
OurSkinny shakes—and weight loss products and programs in general—are not recommended for children. They simply don’t provide the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that a growing young body needs. Worse: it is most often during the teenage years that eating disorders develop. For this reason, we do not recommend OurSkinny for your teenager either.
Just the other day, I was at a health fair speaking with the very concerned mother of an “active” teen-aged girl. She said they had tried everything and asked if I thought OurSkinny could help her daughter get rid of that “spare tire.” Well, a few questions later, we found out that the daughter wasn’t all that “active” after all.
If your child or teenager is overweight, there is only one healthy prescription: eat right and get more exercise.
Why breakfast?
There have been many studies that point out that eating breakfast helps with improving school performance, maintaining and/or losing weight, etc. Recently, Kellogg’s conducted a survey of 14,000 Americans, and found that, while the vast majority of Americans feel breakfast is important, the reality of hectic mornings makes it difficult to fit the meal in every day.
It turns out that only about one third of adults and 60% of children eat breakfast, and the results of the study showed that as children get older the percentage of them eating breakfast decreases.
That’s a shame, because part of the reason why OurSkinny is so effective is that we keep your metabolism working – burning, burning, burning that high-quality protein five times a day, right up until dinner. That starts with your morning Mini Meal (shake or bar) and continues every couple of hours thereafter.
So, how can I get my kids to eat breakfast?
To help ensure that your children are having a healthy breakfast while you are enjoying your OurSkinny shakes each day, try searching the ‘baby food’ aisle in the grocery store for products designed for the toddler or growing child.
You can also ask your physician or dietitian for recommendations about a child safe, nutrient rich, drinkable product. These products will be specifically formulated to meet your child’s nutrient requirements. Another fun suggestion is “Smoothie Time!” Buy yogurt and fresh fruit, and together with your child create a morning smoothie.
Again, OurSkinny shakes are not recommended for children. These products are designed for adults. Please find a product that is suitable for children, and if you have trouble finding something you like, give us a call.
Georgianna Broadwell, MPH, RD, LD