Grandma’s Blog

How do you know if your child is overweight?

To determine if your child is overweight, you need to measure their height and weigh them. Then go to this website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx and enter the child’s date of birth and other info. It will tell you your child’s BMI and whether they are overweight or obese.

Add comment November 12th, 2008

Welcome to my blog!

Hi! My name is Bev Grey, but my readers know me as Grandma. I’m founder and president of Grandma’s Healthy Kids Club, a program to help children lose weight safely or just improve their eating and exercise habits for better health and more energy.

My blog will feature articles that I’ve had published, suggestions for exercise, recipes or links to recipe sites as well as links to websites that help children or adults improve their health and their lives. I also welcome comments from health care professionals, parents, and children.

Be sure to come by frequently to see what’s new!

Add comment November 12th, 2008

Words of Wisdom from Grandma

“With time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown.” - Chinese Proverb

Everyone today is in a hurry. We want fast food, automatic teller machines for our money, instant replays of sports events; self-serve checkouts in supermarkets. We record our favorite TV shows so that we can speed through the commercials.

The same is true of weight loss. We may have put on an extra 50 pounds over 10 years, but we expect to lose it in 3 months. We try all the diet plans that promise quick results, only to be disappointed when we don’t lose fast enough, or we lose weight then gain it back–plus some–when the diet is over.

By being patient and changing our lifestyle to one that supports good health, we can lose weight slowly and steadily and keep it off for good. By eating healthy foods that taste good, we won’t feel like we are “dieting”, because we aren’t! By planning what we are going to eat each day either the night before or early in the morning, we start to eat to live, not live to eat. By making sure we get some exercise every day, we start to enjoy increased energy, and new compliments from our friends as we look better and better!

One day at a time, you CAN reach and maintain a healthy weight!

Add comment October 21st, 2008

Your original article can appear on my blog!

If you are in the health or fitness business and have an original article you would like published on my blog, send me at e-mail at info@grandmashealthykidsclub.com. along with a copy of the article. There is no charge, and a link to your website will be shown along with your bio.

I reserve the right to refuse any articles that are not appropriate.

All I ask in return is that you put a link to my website on your website or blog.

Bev Grey
“Grandma”

Add comment October 9th, 2008

Foods That Fill ‘em Up

Dear Friends,

Are your kids always hungry? Do their stomachs seem like bottomless pits? Are they overweight because they are always eating? Feeding them the right kinds of foods may solve the problem!

Foods that are high in sugar or foods that turn to sugar in your body (bread; white potatoes, white rice and other starchy foods) may seem to make them full, but the effect doesn’t last long. They cause a temporary rise in blood sugar, but that quickly drops and soon they will be hungry again!

What is the answer?

-First of all, make sure they are really hungry and not just thirsty. Dehydration can seem like hunger, so encourage them to drink some water or other non-sweet beverage.

-Fill ‘em up with fiber! Foods that are high in fiber will not only fill them up, but keep them full longer. Here are some suggestions:

-Whole fruit instead of fruit juice.
-Whole grain bread, such as 100% whole wheat or rye
-Hot cereal such as oatmeal, oat bran, barley, etc. Add a few raisins or
some dried or chopped fruit to make it even more filling.
-Whole grain cold cereals that are NOT pre-sweetened. Check the label
on the side of the box, and look for cereals that have 4-5 grams of fiber
per serving
-Whole wheat crackers, tortillas, or pasta; or brown rice

-Include some protein at every meal. An egg, some cottage cheese or yogurt; 100% natural peanut butter, lean meat, fish or poultry, or beans. Avoid bacon for breakfast, since it is high in fat but has little or no nutritional value.

-Serve more fruits and vegetables. Those that have high water content, such as watermelon, salad greens, or tomatoes are very filling but not high in calories. Encourage them to eat the peels of apples, peaches, pears, plums and other fresh fruits to give them added fiber (make sure you wash them thoroughly to avoid the effects of dangerous sprays. You can make your own low cost fruit and vegetable wash with 1 gallon filtered water, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar. Soak the foods for 4-5 minutes, then rinse well).

-Try to serve their meals and snacks at approximately the same time every day. Planned snacks such as whole wheat crackers with peanut butter, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit, or veggie strips with low-fat Ranch dressing for dipping will satisfy their hunger and give them the nutrition their growing bodies need!

Add comment September 15th, 2008