Have you ever heard the controversy about the need for junk food in schools to be removed to protect children from obesity? New statistics from Sociology of Education’s recent publication has determined some more opposing statistics.

A new study of nearly 20,000 middle schoolers has found that kids who attend schools that sell junk food such as soda and doughnuts do not gain more weight than students who attend schools where that type of food isn’t available.

Rather, it was determined by the author of the study and Pennsylvania State Professor, Jennifer Hook, that children’s diets in the home, or outside the school environment are more significant.

Professor Hook includes, “eating habits are set very early, so efforts to encourage healthy food choices should start before middle school”.

As a parent, or future parent, this information is crucial to a child’s health. It is not totally the school cafeteria’s fault for children being overweight and unhealthy. It has much to do with the parent’s teachings about eating habits to their children.

Most children learn by observation. Even if you tell them to snack on an apple instead of chips, but you are snacking chips in front of them, eventually they will make the same choices and it can impact them adversely.

So first and foremost, teaching yourself how to live a healthy lifestyle is important. If you don’t know how to eat healthy how will you know how to teach a child?

One important step that can be made is to drink more water!! Giving them clean, safe water will not only be more enjoyable for them to drink than tap water, but it will better for their overall health. Try putting citrus fruits, like lemon, or strawberries in the water sometimes if your child feels water is boring.

Another trick you can try is to cook fresh foods at home. Maybe even try cooking with your child as an activity and give them something fun to do and look forward to!

There are so many ways to keep our children healthy. All it takes is some effort and creativity!

(Source: Yahoo!)