By Dr. R. Todd Hurst and Dr. Lisa Hurst

One of the biggest health problems of today is child obesity. This isn’t just because of unhealthy diets though, it also has to do with eating too much. And all too often, we find ourselves expected to eat too much. Restaurants provide bigger portions than what we should be having. Drinks come in bigger containers. And we tend to bulk our eating time into one or two portions a day, so we habitually eat more all in one sitting.

Unfortunately, the improper proportioning of our meals has begun to weigh heavily on our health and our lives. The answer isn’t just healthier eating. It is healthier eating habits that greatly affect us the most.

Pace yourself

How often is it good to eat? Some might scold you for eating too often, but is it possible that the more often you eat, the less you might actually be eating. Eating smaller amounts throughout the day keeps you feeling full and actually improves your energy and overall health. There’s no reason to eat big meals twice a day, especially since we often find ourselves sluggish and sleepy afterwards. The body actually metabolizes your food better when you eat smaller quantities in smaller intervals, such as a good breakfast, a light lunch, a light afternoon snack, and a light dinner. This is opposed to the hefty lunch and large dinner that many of today’s busy individuals are accustomed to.

Avoid over-eating situations

Because we find ourselves faced with larger portions when out in today’s restaurants, one of the simplest (and least expensive) answers is to dine at home more often. If you can prepare your own meals, you’ll find that you only prepare what you actually need to eat. You can focus on what ingredients you’re actually putting in your body as well, cutting out the bulk of fatty foods, cholesterol, and even non-essential carbs that your body doesn’t really need.

And there’s no reason you can’t leave leftovers for later. A lot of people feel compelled to clean their plate as a habit developed from childhood. It’s there, so we eat it. But why? If you’re full, then why push yourself to eat more? Don’t worry about leftovers, because they’ll be there later.

Read before you eat

Additionally, be sure that you always read the labels of your food products. It might say less than fifty calories, but that usually means per serving, not the entire container. This is where a great number of diets can go wrong, especially when a product is advertised as new and healthier. It only takes about ten seconds to read the entire label, so take a few seconds to help ensure that you’re getting the right nutrition.

Pay attention

Another thing to keep in mind is when you don’t have food on your mind. Habitual eating affects a large number of children, especially when entertainment can prove very distracting from what’s going on around them. Avoid snacking or eating while watching television or even while working (doing homework) or when your mind is overall preoccupied.

Permanent weight loss isn’t just about eating healthy; it’s about developing healthy eating habits. If you can define your meals into healthy proportions and avoid situations that put you in an over-eating predicament, you’ll be able to keep both you and your children healthy and happy so you all can enjoy plenty of fun family activities together.

– Dr. R. Todd Hurst, MD is a board certified cardiologist and Dr. Lisa Hurst, MD is a board certified internist. After years of watching fad diets fail their patients they founded Achieve-Life, an online weight loss program,. The program is a unique combination of tools and resources that can guarantee your weight loss. And now you have the opportunity to try the difference for free! Visit this page and look for the ‘try it free’ button on the top right corner of the page.