I don’t know how we managed before the internet when researching obese children, finding information on obese children would mean a trip to the library and it just wouldn’t happen so thinks wouldn’t improve and kids would suffer. Having the informati…

Consequently this is why some people cannot adjust to eating low-fat or fat-free alternatives to some foods right away – without the fat, some flavor is compromised. (This is true…however I personally believe tastebuds can be adjusted, but that’s a different rant!)

So, if our kids are exposed to these fatty options right out of the gate, certainly they will be more prone to prefer those foods over the healthier alternatives (i.e. chicken nuggets over grilled bbq chicken).

However, speaking as a woman who has spent the last five years avoiding foods with insanely high fat content, I know that when I DO (on the rare occasion) have fried or otherwise fatty food…it kind of makes me sick.

In the process of losing and keeping 50+ pounds off my body, my system is conditioned to process smaller quantities of fat than, say, what is in a 6 piece McNugget meal.

So, the question remains, why do we not teach and encourage our children to eat healthy right out of the gate, but “pardon” the unhealthy habits. We as the adults are putting the food in front of them, so isn’t it OUR choice, not theirs, what they eat? Can we not start them on strained peas before, say ice cream, so their tastebuds are exposed to the flavors of vegetables before sweets?

To answer your question, Dr. D., in this society, ‘kid-friendly’ does mean ‘fattening’ or unhealthy, but the silver lining is we are in a position to alter that. We just need to own up to the responsibility and make healthy eating a priority in our families and our lives.