We tend to eat on the run. We need to get back to sit-down dinners. Parents are role models, and the structure of family meals is important. Kids don't need to eliminate sweets and desserts. In fact, kids need fat for growth and brain development.
Exercise is important, too.
Many kids, especially latchkey kids, are inactive. And physical education is less common in schools today than it was a generation ago. If you suspect your child is overweight, talk to your pediatrician. He or she can recommend an eating plan. Overweight or not, other than portion sizes children's nutritional needs aren't much different than adults,' Kandell says.