Childhood obesity rates are rising, especially in adolescents according to Statistics Canada. Over the past 25 years there has been a significant increase in kids who are both overweight and obese. It is a frightening statistic because one study shows that once a person is overweight, further weight gain is likely.
I attribute our kid's weight gain to many things:

• food choices are poor, kids and families are eating quick fast pre-packaged meals, there is less emphasis on fruits and vegetables, more on crackers, cookies and bars
• kids are much less active, more time is spent watching television or playing video games
• parents busy schedule doesn't often include after school sports, such as baseball, swimming lessons etc.

What can we do to get our kids back on track?

• lead by example, get out on family hikes, get a dog to walk, or borrow a neighbours, get involved with outdoor activities, plan fun things to do outside, such as a bug or treasure hunt
• take a class together, like boating, orienteering, tennis, golf etc.
• take the time to prepare home made meals and lunches that emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like whole wheat bread, brown rice and whole grain pasta and lean meats (like chicken and turkey) and fish (salmon, bass, trout)
• limit television and video game time to an hour per day or less, or just on the weekends
• have your kids participate in outdoor chores, like gardening, lawn maintenance and raking
• reward their efforts to be more active by planning more fun family outings