Does Your Kid Need to Go on a “Diet”?

What if I told you everyone is or has been on a diet? Does that sound like too much? Well, it's true. A diet is simply a variety of foods you regularly eat to nourish your body — essentially your everyday balanced diet. But today, the word "diet" has become synonymous with crash or restricted diets that are followed to reduce body weight.

Well, you might be knowing many adults who worry about their weight and, at some point or the other, have tried to go on a fad diet that's in vogue, often ignoring health guidelines and long-term health tips.

But what about kids? I get a lot of parents who worry about their child’s growing body weight and childhood weight patterns, and wonder if they should be on a "diet" too. You must understand that kids do not need to — and should not — "diet" this way.

Let's understand why.

All foods contain calories or energy. When you try to follow some restricted diet foods to lose weight by reducing calorie intake, you may lose body fat and decrease weight, but at the same time there is a very high chance that you are losing many essential nutrients.

Kids do not need to diet in this way. Unlike adults, kids are still growing and developing. During this time, kids need a variety of healthy foods, including healthy foods protein, to support proper growth and development. Some kids are overweight, but even overweight kids can improve their health simply by eating balanced diet foods and being more active.

Being overweight can cause health problems, but kids may hurt their health even more by doing something drastic, like skipping meals or deciding to eat only fruits. Such approaches go against basic healthy eating advice and long-term health guidelines.

Let's know what then can we do.

So — you are wondering, if kids don't need to diet, then how can they stay at a healthy weight?

All kids can benefit from eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of physical activity. This supports healthy childhood weight management without restriction.

Kids have a lot of choices when it comes to activity and exercise, which helps regulate body weight naturally.

Kids can also try to eat a variety of healthy foods, including home-style meals and simple healthy recipes rather than restrictive diet foods.

A balanced diet helps their body by giving it the right nutrients, energy, and protein — including healthy foods protein — needed for growth.

Avoid or restrict junk foods, keeping them for occasional treats, and instead focus on high energy foods, nutritious meals, and wholesome foods to make you gain weight in a healthy manner when needed.

Now you know what your kid really needs — a “good diet”.

This means a diet that is good and healthy, supports growth, includes balanced diet foods, and follows simple food tips and health tips rather than restrictions.

Do not hesitate to take help from your Nutritionist to plan a special diet — a balanced diet, filled with healthy foods, simple healthy recipes, and practical healthy eating advice — just right for your kid to get healthy and thrive.