With an abundance of free time and growing appetites, young children are more likely to gain weight during the summer than during the school year.

Ideally, summer means your children are playing outdoors and eating their fill of fresh fruits and vegetables. The reality may be different. Children often break their regular eating routines during the summer and exchange eating wholesome meals for snacking on junk food.

Keep things structured
Just as mealtimes are scheduled during the school year, you can set the meal agenda for the summer. One of the best ways to make sure your children have a healthy summer is to set a healthy example yourself by providing nutritious, low-calorie meals. During the days, make sure that water and healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables and low-fat yogurt are always available.

Structure your children’s days so that their time watching television is limited. Encourage them to exercise. And even if your children don’t play outside during the day, you can enjoy physical activities with them in the evening.

How Children’s can help
The Dean Foods LEAN (Lifestyle Exercise And Nutrition) Families program at Children’s provides comprehensive weight management therapy for children and their families. Learning to make healthy food choices is core to the program, which includes two tracks—one for children ages 6 to 11 and a teen-specific program for 12- to 18-year-olds.

Children's is the first and only hospital in the nation to be certified for pediatric obesity education by The Joint Commission.

Both programs are administered through the hospital’s Clinical Nutrition department and provide intense weight-management therapy. During the 12-week sessions, participants learn how to make healthy snacks and participate in physical activities. Activities for young classes tend to be game-oriented, while those for teens focus on guiding the participant toward an activity he or she enjoys.

Resources
Childen's Medical Center: Healthy Lifestyles

Last reviewed: July 2008