1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Aug 22, 2006, 4:53 pm PDT

I have a 13yr old daughter that weighs about 118, and is about 4'2. She has what we call a pooch that makes her very self conscience. I am trying to help her with excercise and good food, but she sneaks bad foods and I dont know how to help her without hurting her feelings? What kinds of foods can she eat and still loose weight? Please help?

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Aug 22, 2006, 7:21 pm PDT

Chetschance---There are so many useless calories in beverages. If you could steer her more towards water or even diet drinks that alone would help a lot---might even allow her to eat what she wants while maintaining or losing weight. Fresca is really good and there's all kinds of flavored waters on the market now. I also really like the Vitamin Waters---they have about the same amount of calories as soda, but they taste good and have all sorts of vitamins. Iced tea. Anything but soda---just three 12 oz sodas a day is about 420 calories---about 25% of the daily allowance for calories. It's the easiest, most effective way to limit calories fast.

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Aug 22, 2006, 8:05 pm PDT

You say she sneaks food, but at the age of 13 - you must be purchasing the food - make wise choices in your home and she will only have healthy choices to choose from (apples, bananas, whole grains, low calorie drinks...) and say you are watching what YOU eat. It is likely that she will want to join you in an effort to loose her pooch (I bet it is not something she likes about herself). When she expresses even a little interest, go with it and make it into a race between the two of you to eat healthy - loose weight and exercise more!!! It is still our job to be a good role model when they are teenagers and think they know it all. Good luck!

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Aug 22, 2006, 8:36 pm PDT

okay, so here is my problem: Every time my 9yo son goes to see his dad, he literally gains a pound a day. That made it 14# in 2 weeks this summer!! It has meant he gains and looses about 30# each year for the past 3 years. I'm at my wits end. During his winter visit he had a stomach virus and STILL gained the weight. I've discussed it with my ex, to no avail. I've been trying and trying to teach my son to make good choices. Apparently it doesn't happen while he's there. Both our families have diabetes (my dad has it and he's is great shape...) so this is a serious issue in our family. What do I do?

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Aug 22, 2006, 9:21 pm PDT

This may sound drastic, but it might be your last resort. You are wise to consider the diabetes factor. When my daughter was young and visited her father, he always brought her back sunburned. (As a adult she refers to herself as "glow in the dark white?) She was burned so badly, sometimes, that she missed that Monday at school. Nothing worked trying to reason with him. I finally went to a lawyer and found out that I could go back to court to modify visitation rights if he didn't take better care of her. I guess the thought of losing some visitation (or me having the final say?) got his attention, but he got better about it. You may have to do something drastic to get his attention.

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 12:19 am PDT

i have a 12 yr old son that eats nothing but chicken nuggets,strips,pattie`s... french fries,waffle`s,cereal.he eats some fruits,apple`s oranges, grape`s.he won`t eat any kind of red meat or try anything different at all he isn`t fat but he is chubby. i am so frustrated with this. i also have to stop and get chicken nuggets and ff. io am at my wit`s end

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 12:48 am PDT

lonnarodriguez,do u know that ur answer lies in ur context? In my opinion, first don't be so anxious for ur little girl. Babies r always seeking for something new. It may be food/ toys/ dresses.... so do we like to change our likings before it turns to boredom. I've heard several parents saying that her child does not take anything at meal time. I think we r also responsible for loosing their interests. Noodles is a very healthy and balanced food including carbohydrate, protein,vitamins,fat etc for the children. U may add new taste to her by making noodles soup in lieu of fried noodles. French fries is also contains high calories to grown up children. But u have to be careful that she shd not become obsessed of any particular food. U should be only concerned that whether she is taking balanced diet in a day or not.She shd take milk or milk-made food everyday. If u insist her repeatedly, she might show her unwillingness of taking foods of ur choice. So-#be patient,# just concentrate on her choice and see showing ur ve attitude to her interests, makes her being ve to ur selections, # being a role model show her that u r enjoying "ur food" as much she likes her owns. I think after a couple of weeks ur daughter will turn her likings towards urs as an adventure. But it will take time. So, have patience, follow disciplined life, practice particular food time .

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 5:13 am PDT

How horrible Soia

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 5:54 am PDT

Good advice, Soia. That way, at least the child can get a chance for positive and loving support in a foster care home. Believe it or not, there are people out there who actually love kids...especially abused ones.

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 6:46 am PDT

The way we get our children to eat what they "think" they don't like is after dinner, no desset unless you eat everything or at least try a reasonable amount of the undesired food. It seems to work well. Also, we don't buy junk food, so they eat fruits and vegetables because that's what they know. Eating habits start they day they are born.

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 6:57 am PDT

I have a 4 yr old that will only east chicken (just the breast meat), breads and hot dogs. No Fruit, veggies, pasta or any kinda nothing else. He starts pre-school on the 28th full day. I can only send food that doesn't require heating (They dont heat any lunchs). What am i goin to feed my son. HELP!!!!

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 7:05 am PDT

How sick are you soia1979? I hope you dont have kids and if you do they need to be taken away. How would you like it if someonehit you that much? You probably were hit that much and thats why you continue to pass the abuse down the line. Get some help.

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 7:18 am PDT

Seems to me if a kid is THAT picky about what he or she eats, the child is just not hungry enough. Who's the grown-up in charge here?

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 7:56 am PDT

I am about 13 years old and 5'4 and 93 lbs. I eat healthy excercise daily, try to keep in shape and eat healthy. Everyone says that I an anorexic but I dont think I am because I have always been thin. I have never hit 10 lbs. and I cut candy out of my diet completely. Is it my fault I'm thin or is it just my body shape beacuse sometimes, when I do eat junk foods (when I'm on vacation or something like that)I tend to gain a pound and then lose it the nextday. And in May I was sick for about 4 days and I lost 10 lbs. And I didn't even throw up! Can I gain weight and still eat healthy? Please help!

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Wed, Aug 23, 2006, 8:33 am PDT

People put a little thought into this. We are the adults, we are suppose to have a little more wisdom. For the parent of the 5 yr. old that only eats ramon noodles. Try chopping up cooked vegs.(very fine at 1st) and mixing those in. Then if that works try meat later. As for the french fry thing. You can get steak fries and chicken fries now (they appear to be a fries but really they are steak and chicken) 12 yr. old that only eats chicken waffles cereal no red meat ect. By waffles that are whole grain and the ones with real fruit. Limit the syrup to light, reduced sugar (there really is reduced sugar syrup) Same thing with the cereal whole grain, low sugar. As for the red meat maybe it is the way it is prepared, try to cook it at all different temperatures. I personally will not eat a steak if it is over med. rare but, my burger must be cooked med. well. Also, a 12 yr.old likes money add eating to the chore list. It works. I've done it. Also, what works with my children (9 & 7 yr. old boys) is telling them if they can't eat at least a small portion they do NOT get to play the Playstation, go to football (whatever it is that happens to be of interests to them at the time) For the smaller children... Take the food they like best and dress it up. My 15 month old daughter loves spaghetti, hates veggies. So I make lots of spaghetti, cook up some carrots,green beans, whatever. I chop the veggies as fine as I can get them and mix them in. She is none the wiser. I win because she gets her veggies, she wins because she thinks she won. (sometimes this trick works with older children too.) As for everyone whom has commented on soia. You should not be mean to the mentally handi-cap. It is quite clear that person has less (considerably less) than average intel.

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