Clients tell me they offer a variety of foods "all the time" and are frustrated by constant rejections. Many parents don't understand and are grateful to learn what a better "offer" looks like.

While it's encouraging to see so many community leaders taking the issue of childhood obesity to heart, ultimately, this is a parent's responsibility. If you want your children to be healthy and fit, you need to set boundaries and be the best role model you can.

Involving the whole family in making healthy food and lifestyle choices, instead of singling out the overweight child, can greatly increase the likelihood of success.

Many parents have a hard time making their kids eat "healthy" foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Brussels sprouts and spinach? Forget it! But it doesn't have to be like this.

When it comes to your kid's eating habits, there is no such thing as "the talk." It takes an ongoing conversation to assure they know as much as possible about the importance of healthy habits.

Nutrition is one of the many examples of how parents want children to do as we say and not what we do (particularly when what we are doing is scarfing the leftover bits of chicken nuggets as we carry the plates to the dishwasher.)