Day 10-11.. Fat Parents = Fat kids

 *Please note that this blog post is about statistics and about those who *do* eat unhealthy and are obese because of the food they eat and lack of exercise. It is not about those who are overweight due to a medical condition, genetics, or anything else that is out of their control*



We have all heard the saying *Fat Parent = Fat kids* Well I also want to say *Unhealthy parent = Unhealthy kids*  Although the statistics are high, some are blessed with great genetics. That does not mean that we are doing the best for our children. If we eat junk our kids will eat junk that will slowly poison their body leading to things such as diabetes, high cholesterol, lack of vitamins etc.

I was talking to my husband the other night and said that I am glad that I have decided to change my eating habits, not just for me but for our kids and especially Miss 14 months old. I told him that I did not want our baby to become a *MacDonalds Kid* Meaning that I don't want her growing up thinking that it is okay to consume junk food on a regular basis, I don't want her thinking that junk food is okay to have all the time and I don't want her growing up fat and/or unhealthy..

You see I have to change me to change my family. I am the grocery buyer, I am the one that cooks dinners, I am the one that chooses what we eat when we are out most of the time.. If I don't look after myself the whole ship goes down! It really is one thing to be responsible just for yourself but when you are a huge influence to those who you care for you have even MORE reason to look after yourself, to eat healthy and to choose *good* foods.

Here are some facts that You can find at Monash Uni

Obesity in Australia

• Fourteen million Australians are overweight or obese.
• More than five million Australians are obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² ). READ MORE
• If weight gain continues at current levels, by 2025, close to 80% of all Australian adults and a third of all children will be overweight or obese. READ MORE
• Obesity has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of premature death and illness in Australia. READ MORE
• Obesity has become the single biggest threat to public health in Australia.
• On the basis of present trends we can predict that by the time they reach the age of 20 our kids will have a shorter life expectancy than earlier generations simply because of obesity.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are 1.9 times as likely as non-indigenous Australians to be obese.

Also you might find this article at Better health interesting about Obesity in children..

Now that I am eating healthy the kids and hubby are enjoying new foods, new tastes and a variety of meals instead of the same thing each week. Buying and cooking healthy gives you a diverse range of things to make and makes dinner time interesting and yummy each night. Not only that you are giving your kids a healthier start to life. So put down the burger, chuck out the chocolate and join me on a healthy family life style xoxo.