According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of obesity among children aged 6-11 has tripled in the past three decades. As a result, cases of type 2 diabetes in children and the number of cases of bone and joint problems caused by overweight have also increased. Our oversized society actually harms the health of our children. From big tastes to "big meals" fast food – the society promotes children's unhealthy eating habits.

However, even at home, we still encourage poor feeding habits. Usually parents will tell the children to eat everything on their plates, but our plate size has grown over the past few decades. A 9-inch diameter plate used to be the norm. Now 11-inch diameter plates are common. It may not sound a big difference, but realize that 11-inch plates eat 33% more food than 9-inch plates. The result – we are just overfeeding our children. What can you do to help fight the prevalence of childhood obesity? Try these tips. They will encourage their children to develop healthy habits and leave more hard-earned money in their wallets. Switch to a smaller section.

Simply move the 11-inch plate to the 9-inch plate and you can reduce the amount of food by 33%. The best thing is that for a few nights, your family won't even mind this difference. You can save money and help ensure your child's health by reducing food. Stop buying potato chips, cakes and other junk food for the house. Instead, have your child buy their candy, chips and other snack foods. This once simple step will teach your child to make financial decisions at a very young age. It may also result in a reduction in the amount of junk food they consume. Develop the habit of replacing water with a meal every day.

Try to do the same meal every day, like every lunch or every dinner. Water is a healthy alternative and much cheaper than juice. Again, consider diluting the juice your family drinks. The average juice drink is filled with high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors. Just add 20% water to dilute the juice. You save money and your child can drink a drink that contains less high fructose corn syrup. Just take a small part of these simple steps to ensure healthy eating habits that last a lifetime and save money.

Should parents be responsible for childhood obesity? was originally published on Spring