Daily parents of obese children tell Nutritionist and Diet Coach Mattie Mola that they can’t change the way their families eat because no one will eat the food. Or they can’t get their children moving more because their children don’t like to walk.First off, change is scary because it disrupts whatever we have come to know as the norm. This is true even if what we know as the norm is unhealthy for us. Secondly, children are the world’s best manipulators. They can make a parent feel guilty, shamed, unworthy and diminished with a single toss of the head. And finally, unless your child has a disability, it is ludicrous to accept as true that they don’t like to walk.

They may simply prefer, however, playing an electronic game to actually moving.

Don’t ask permission to improve your health and that of your family. As parents we are responsible for building a healthy foundation for our children. Discuss with them what you will be doing and why.

Enlist their cooperation. Almost every offspring likes some nutrient dense foods. Find out the favorites of your family and include them when possible.

Make change gradually but consistently. You may be trying to include a vegetable with a meal. The vegetable in question might be better served as an ingredient in the recipe’s preparation. For example, adding crushed tomato to a basic meatloaf. Instead of switching abruptly from white bread, you might try triangles of authentic whole grain bread served with salsa or a bit of cheese during a leisurely lunch or dinner.

When you ask them to tell you about the day at school, suggest you all need fresh air and they can talk to you about school while taking a quick walk together. If you live in a city and pick the kids up from child care, you might be able to talk with your kids about the day as you walk a block or two before hopping on mass transit. This is a painless method for improving the health of the obese child and avoiding teenage obesity.