Parish House Resources

Kids these days face more health challenges than we did. Sure, we contended with polio, smallpox, deadly strains of influenza and a dozen other near-biological weapons. But as far as chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and asthma, we have nothing on today’s McDonald’s generation. Without a doubt, youth obesity is one of the single-most pressing public health issues of our time; our kids are eating more bad food and getting less exercise than ever. So what’s a parent, who isn’t around 24 hours a day to police what his or her children eat or don’t eat, supposed to do to prevent their child from getting on the ‘fat train?’

First, even though it is impossible to always prevent your child from eating junk food, which abounds around Dallas, it isn’t much work to teach your child how to make good decisions; when kids understand the consequences of their choices and truly understand the reality of those consequences, they are more likely to make the right choices – the ones with the best consequences. In the case of diet, good teaching means explaining why non-junk foods are better than junk foods – they make kids stronger, give them more energy, and will even help them to grow, which in turn makes them better-looking (girls respond better to this.) Other than that, the detrimental effects of bad-tasting foods can be underscored, but not so much that you demonize all unhealthy food. Unhealthy food does have a place at the table inasmuch as a good dessert can bring people together, or inasmuch as a donut can be a much-needed afternoon pick-me-up. In this sense, moderation is the one dietary rule that can be underscored that will help children make the right choices about what they eat.

Secondly, encouraging kids to get exercise beyond their regular-scheduled physical education classes is crucial to instilling the value that exercise leads to better health and an improved sense of well-being and happiness, which has been proven time and time again by research. Here in Dallas, kids karate presents an ideal way to ensure that your children are getting regular physical activity – and activity that they are sure to love. The applicability of karate for kids in a school setting is multi-faceted. First, knowledge of karate will give kids the tools they need to defend themselves against bullies if need. Second, regular activity and the achievement of goals will improve their sense of accomplishment and self-worth. Third, regular practice of discipline will make it easier for children to focus outside the classroom, and last, they are sure to avoid the obesity trap with all those regular punches and kicks!