What is the best diet for young inactive girls?

Question

Many children nowadays, girls in particular, lead very inactive lifestyles. What would be the best types of food to give them to eat (i.e. what's the best diet for them), aside from encouraging them to exercise?

Answer 1

If they willl eat fresh veggies and fruit such as apples, baby carrots, celery, green and red peppers for snacking that fills them up and makes them less likely to fill up on junk foods. Measure out portions at meal time and pass the salad if still hungary. Cut out high fat meats and substitute 95% lean beef or ground turkey. There are many ways to cook chicken. Often in the winter we have soup and salad night. I would go whole grain breads vs white. Definitely keep junk food out of the house, for an occassional treat you could substitue baked chips for the traditional fat laiden ones. Water is great, but if there must be juice, cut it half and half with water.

Answer 2

Increase their intake of fruits and vegetables. Stay away from processed foods, white flour, white sugar etc. Changes have to be made slowly, and slowly cut back on portions. Instead of eating three pizzas with the salad, have two pieces with 2 salads. Have her find an activity she likes, and encourage her to do it a couple of times a day. TURN OFF THE TV, and no video games or computer. Limit these items and use them as a reward. The question is, how are YOUR eating habits and exercise. Children live what they see. My brother has incorporated guidelines from the South beach Diet and has lost 50 pounds. When you want ice cream, buy an ice cream sandwich or something, don't keep the half gallon in the house. Over time, new eating habits stay in place. But, it is work and encourage her to drink at least 36 ozs of water a day. What I do to encourage water intake, is to get 16 or 20 oz water bottles or use an empty soda bottle, fill it up with water daily and keep in the refrigerator. When I get thirsty, I grab a bottle, and when those bottles are gone, Then I may have something else to drink. If she does use Kool Aid, get sugar free or unsweetened. This gives an option for the day. Green tea is good, get away from sodas. By incorporating some of these items, I have also lost 40 pounds. The exercise is the hardest part. You don't need to do 30 minutes at one time, you can also do 10 minutes 3 times a day. Her body will tell her when to increase activity. Show her how to garden, even in a pot, for this incourages outside activity. Go bowling, roller skating, walking to the store instead of driving. Parking futher away when going to the mall. Anything to encourage! Get a pedometer to track steps, for 10,000 is recommended and that's 5 miles of walking daily. You can cheat with them, so she would need to be honest. Try starting a walking club with her friends or incorporate moms and dads with the group. This way she's not feeling singled out, and everyone can enjoy the walk. Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

When we are inactive all excess energy we don't burn to survive is stored as fat, as you may know. More and more research has been showing the negative effects excess fat bring into the whole body, the list of potential diseases is too long to quote here.

The only way to avoid this, in a natural manner is off course to exercise and eat well. If one does not exercise, eating well takes HIGH priority.
If one does not exercise, the amount of simple carbohydrates (candy, cakes, cookies, refined flower products such a white bread, pasta, pizza, sodas etc..) in the diet should be cut to no more than about 30 to 40g a day. Yes, it is little.
However, there are still plenty of good foods that are not simple carbohydrates, such as fish, chicken, meat, all vegetables, fruits, cheese, whole grains and all their products such as whole grain breads and pastas. Olive oil is VERY important in a diet because it mops out the bad cholesterol from the arteries.
Hope that helps.

Answer 4

Well I have a granddaughter whose mother does a great job in keeping her from gaining too much weight.....and I have watched what she does....primarily...she really discourages eating outside of mealtimes....and if they have a snack...it is very small...like I saw her "dole out" just a handful of m& m's ...instead of handing her a bag of them.....or one cookies, etc.

The mother herself is very slender and was raised that way...so it is natural to her to not make food very important. She also has her enrolled in one active thing...like swimming....or baseball....so she has a sport as part of her weekly life.

It is also pretty harmful to make a huge point to the child that they need to diet....better to just serve them healthy food and snacks.....

As to what they should eat...a balance of grains and fiber...like good cereal, whole wheat bread.....vegetables....as many raw as possible...like carrot sticks, celery, etc....fruits, and meat in smaller amounts.....and stay away from fast food...make it an occasional treat...not a regular thing. Snacks can also be healthy and not sugar all the time.

Answer 5

I'd say add fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.

Cut junk foods like chips, deep fried foods, sugary drinks, and candy.

I hope this helps!

Answer 6

well, if being active is your least priority, try to count calories by asking yout total caloric requirement. consult a nutritionist-dietitian, they could provide you with the adequate amount of all food groups according to your needs. They use different factor for different level of activities...

Answer 7

a diet full of fruit and vegtables, protein, fibre will be the best as all the recommended nutrients are being consumed.

Answer 8

don't eat anything that contain flour e.g pizza, rice, noodles...
and do some exercise, it doesn't have to be too much though
worked for me
good luck!

Answer 9

See below

Answer 10

encourage them to play outside and run around..and make sure they eat healty foods to keep them healty!