Helping Your Child Eat Well
Here are some basic suggestions for helping your child or teen develop healthy eating habits:

• Start off with a good breakfast to boost your child’s concentration, memory and energy level.
• Let your child help prepare meals, and teach him how to make healthy choices when it comes to food.
• Eat dinner as a family.
• Provide healthy snacks and foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole-grain breads and cereals.
• Limit fast-food and other low-nutrition foods, and serve water and milk instead of sugary drinks.
• Be a role model for eating healthy.

Children and Body Image
Body image has to do with how we think about our bodies and how we think others see us. Many factors influence the way we see ourselves: messages from parents, peers and the media. It’s important to remember that your child will pick up on your beliefs, attitudes and prejudices about body image – even those you say without thinking. Being aware of what you say – and how you perceive your own and other peoples’ body shapes and sizes – can help you foster a healthy body image in your child.

Eating Disorders
During adolescence, young peoples’ bodies change significantly, and it’s common for them to be self-conscious about weight and appearance. For some youth, however, self-consciousness can result in an eating disorder. Warning signs include:

• Marked change in school performance
• Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• Change in sleeping or eating habits
• Threats of self-harm or self-destructive behavior
• Depression or negative mood and attitude
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Intense fear of becoming obese (regardless of body weight)
• Frequent outbursts of anger or aggression