By Kim Beardsmore

Encourage healthy eating habits

1. Buy and serve more fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned). Let your child choose them at the store.

2. Buy fewer soft drinks and high fat/high calorie snack foods like chips, cookies, and lollies. These snacks are okay once in a while, but keep healthy snack foods on hand too and offer them to your child more often.

3. Eat breakfast every day. Skipping breakfast can leave your child hungry, tired, and looking for less healthy foods later in the day.

4. Plan healthy meals and eat together as a family. Eating together at meal times helps children learn to enjoy a variety of foods.

5. Eat fast food less often. When you visit a fast food restaurant, try the healthful options offered.

6. Offer your child water or low-fat milk more often than fruit juice. Fruit juice is a healthy choice but is high in calories.

7. Do not get discouraged if your child will not eat a new food the first time it is served. Some kids will need to have a new food served to them 10 times or more before they will eat it.

8. Try not to use food as a reward when encouraging kids to eat. Promising dessert to a child for eating vegetables, for example, sends the message that vegetables are less valuable than dessert. Kids learn to dislike foods they think are less valuable.

9. Start with small servings and let your child ask for more if he or she is still hungry. It is up to you to provide your child with healthy meals and snacks, but your child should be allowed to choose how much food he or she will eat.

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A. (H.R.M.), B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is a Herbalife distributor, weight loss coach &creator of the online weight loss & health magazine Weight Loss Health http://weight-loss-health.com.au Your online Herbalife store at http://weightlosshealth.herbalcoach.com Learn about the work at home Herbalife business opportunity at http://free2liv.com

By Andrew McNaught

So, how can you tell if your child has an eating disorder? First you have to analyze their eating habits during a week and also their behavior as well. Habits such as filling up the plate, eating it all and then asking for more or having little at dinner but snacking all evening could be indications of a disorder. Also, if they visit the bathroom after every meal this could be a further indication.

If you are indeed worried and suspect your child does have an eating disorder then it is important to talk to your child about their eating habits. There could be a perfectly logical explanation. Perhaps they had a large lunch at school or they dont like the food you serve to them at the table. At least if you speak to your child to find out the explanations you can then make what are usually very easy remedies to resolve the situation and improve their eating habits.

If after speaking with your child and working with them to improve their eating habits and you still think your child may be suffering from obesity or another eating disorder then you should take them to the doctor. The doctor will be able to advise a plan of action to ensure your child is eating a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet. He may also recommend an exercise program for your child. Many children nowadays are more interested in video games and television than exercise so encouraging your child to get active can sometimes be a problem. Find out if they enjoy any sports or activities and set an example by taking them up yourself and together you and your child can enjoy a more healthy and active life.

Andrew McNaught is a writer and publisher of Top Health Solutions. He provides more information on child obesity and eating disorders that you can research over a cup of your favourite drink at http://www.top-health-solutions.com.