My 11 year old son is a little overweight, only by about 10 kilograms (22 pounds). Anyone have any tips for helping him to eat the right foods? He is extremely fussy and will not try any vegetables (he eats corn and raw carrots but that's it). I really don't want him to have a weight problem as a teenager or an adult. Any tips with fussy 11yo's would be great

One of the ways you can get him eating more veggies would be to grind them up and add them into your meals where they wont be seen. Hamburgers, Soups, sauces. It just adds to the texture, but then he gets more fiber and healthier ingredients. I suppose a stirfry wouldn't do it for him eh? lol. I add lots of different ground vegetable to my meals because i find the taste is really good and it makes things quite tender.
Take Care
Michelle

I was reading something recently (and I wish I could remember the source, but it was some medical journal) that suggested that to get kids to eat vegetables, don't hide them in other foods, if you "hide" broccoli in macaroni and cheese, you'll get the kid to eat mac and cheese, not broccoli... Experiment with different ways of preparing it and do not make a big deal out of it... He eats them or he doesnt... Dont beg, don't plead, don't bribe... unless you're running a restaurant out of your kitchen.. don't make him something special if he's being a fusspot...

Have healthy snacks in the house... in portion controlled sizes... If he likes carrots - those are a great snack w/ some hummus or other dips...

Being active though is his best hope for a healthy rest of his life... Do family activities that involve fun stuff outside (or inside) that involve being active and not sitting watching television - don't make it seem like exercise but make it fun...

Anybody know of any studies concerning picky eaters and obesity? I 've noticed many obese people I know are often picky eaters who favor high calorie foods to low calorie foods, like veggies.

there are a bazillion studies that can prove anything

did you know that wearing a bra can contribute to obesity?
Taking a shower in the morning can contribute to obesity
People who were left handed then forced to be right handed people have a higher percentage of being obese
Going to parochial school contributes to obesity

In the case of picky eaters -it's probably more like that the parent is so happy the kid will eat something - that it really doesn't matter so much what they eat...

lol, yeah really.

No doubt parents figure into it, many lack the discipline or patience to influence their kids without bribing them. I have cousins that wouldn't eat anything green. My Aunt let them eat pizza and "chicken" nuggets daily because thats all they would agree to eat. Every one of them is obese now and as adults they continue to be picky eaters. They don't even eat with the family at holidays because they don't "like" the food.

Anyway everyone I know that struggles with obesity has bad eating habits and many don't like healthy foods due to being picky eaters. Maybe it's an excuse or tactic to feed their bad habit. The flip side is everyone I know that maintains a healthy weight is a diverse eater and always has been, there has to be a connection.

I feel like a broken record when I say this... but it's true.. .I got to my heaviest weight never eating fast food or anything that anyone remotely consider unhealthy.. as a kid, before he grew over a foot on one year and discovered soccer and lacrosse, was a chubby kid - really chubby -and my parents never had fried foods or unhealthy foods -he liked fruit and ate a lot of it...

There really is no one cause of obesity except for not paying attention to how much you're eating ...

No doubt and I never said that but a person wouldn't have to overeat to take in more calories than they burn, it's possible to make bad choices without being a glutton.