Did You Know That Two-thirds of the United States Citizens are Over Weight or Obese?
DID YOU KNOW THAT TWO-THIRDS OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS ARE OVER WEIGHT OR OBESE?
Since Michelle Obama decided to shine a light on the business of childhood obesity, a plethora of research and journal articles have exposed statistics on the exponential gaining of weight that U.S. citizens have experienced over the past decade. A summary of a few cogent points on the weight gaining in America over the past ten years indicates that presently two-thirds of the U.S. population is over-weight or obese, including 18% of adolescents. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past decade, and now researchers and pediatricians are concerned that this generation of children might be the first who do not outlive their parents due to health issues, obesity, and nutritional concerns.
The reasons for this incredible gaining of weight by children are many, including eating processed foods, snacking on high fat and low in nutrition foods, high sugar diets, high fats diets, eating more fast food, less time spent in physical activities, and larger food portions at restaurants. Even living near fast foods restaurants has been correlated with obesity in children. Since parents are the ones who choose and purchase the food their children eat for meals, school lunches, and snacks, it is the parents’ responsibility to provide healthy options for feeding their children.
Here are some healthy snack alternatives that are sure to please the children and/or the adults in your family. Remember to have the snacks already washed, prepared, and ready for the best approach to convenient snacking. You could package the snacks in pre-measured containers for portion control. These are also good snacks to take to work so you don’t spend money and waste calories at the soda and snack machines.
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Hummus and baby carrots- Hummus is made from chickpeas that add fiber and vitamins, garlic that is great for the immune system, and olive oil which is a “good” source of fat that helps to reduce inflammation, increase immune functioning, and supply energy. Additionally, baby carrots contain vitamins and beta-carotenes which are cancer preventing and attack free radicals in the body, and are good for the teeth and eyes.
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Bananas- Bananas are loaded with fiber, minerals, and vitamins. According to the USDA Children’s Nutritional Research Center, bananas also help to control weight and increase stamina through inulin, a prebiotic fiber that regulates appetite control hormones.
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Whole wheat bread or whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter- The whole wheat provides vitamins, minerals, and good fiber. The peanut butter is high in vitamin E which has been proven to prevent cellular damage and it provides a source of “good” fats which is changed into energy in the body.
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Almonds- These are also a great snack as they are high in vitamins and trace minerals, especially in vitamin E which is good for the skin and which serves as an anti-aging vitamin for cellular and skin repair. Almonds are also good for reducing the risk of heart disease.
- Apples- Apples are great for building a healthy body and teeth. Apples are high in fiber that promotes colonic health, and high in vitamin C and other anti-oxidants that prevent heart and promote brain health. By eating one apple, 80% of the cavity causing bacteria in a mouth is destroyed.
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Grapefruit- This fruit is loaded with fiber and high in vitamin C which serves as an anti-oxidant and immune booster. In addition, research showed that obese people who ate a half of a grapefruit or drank a glass of grapefruit juice before a meal lost an average of 3.5 pounds over 12 weeks when compared with those in a control group.
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Blueberries- Blueberries have anthocyanins which attack free-radicals and even block the growth of cancer cells. The antioxidant flavonoids in blueberries soften skin, boost brain functioning, and are full of vitamins and compounds that prevent urinary tract infections. In addition, blueberries are a good source of vitamin K which helps to increase bone –mineral density and prevents bone fractures.
Watermelon- Watermelon is full of fluid which promotes good skin and helps to flush fat and bacteria from the body. The lycopene in watermelon serves to reduce the risk of heart disease, and ovarian and cervical cancers. In addition, watermelon has a good amount of vitamins A and C which are good for bones, skin, and internal organs.
