Why is My Child Gaining Weight?

Comment: Lots of parents have asked me to "watch the seconds" with some of the kids. Here's an article that might help sort out why some children pack it on. When you break down food into groups, there are very few - protein, dairy, fats and carbohydrates.

When you break down carbohydrates, you get two groups - one kids love and one kids are so so about. When you really take a look at a child's diet, you see that fruit, vegetables and whole grains which are supposed to be a big contributor to any diet are so limited and so rarely eaten...

But what takes the place of the calories a child really needs? Sugar.

Read the article; it's from Baby Fit. You might be surprised about some food, and then remember that we are slowly introducing better carbohydrates at school. It's been a bit of a battle, but if it means children develop better habits and are healthier for it, it's a battle worth winning.

Sugars are simple carbohydrates. When we typically think of sugar we think of such things as granulated, brown, powdered, raw, or cane. However, things like honey, syrup and molasses are also sugars. You'll also find it used in things like jam, jelly, soda, pies, cakes, cookies and candy bars.

Your body needs carbohydrates to supply the energy that is necessary to function and perform. Complex carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain products and dried peas and legumes provide the same energy but are less likely to be converted and stored as fat.

It is generally recommended that pregnant woman get about 55-60% of their calories from carbohydrate sources, which includes both simple and complex carbohydrates. However, complex carbohydrates are the best choices.

So in a 2000 calorie diet, about 1200 of your calories should come from carbohydrate sources--that's 300 grams of carbohydrates.

Sugar (simple carbohydrates) will be included in this total, but you should limit it to a small portion of your daily selections.

To track carbohydrates in your Nutrition Tracker, go to "My Plan". Scroll down and click "Add Nutrient to Track/Change Nutrition Goals". On the new screen click "Add another nutrient to track". Then select "carbohydrates" from the drop-down list, and "Save" your changes. The program will automatically add the recommended grams of carbohydrates you should consume based on your recommended calorie level.

The "Please KISS Me" Plan can be a great help for selecting meals that promote complex carbohydrates while still including some sugar.