Fighting childhood obesity could start in your kitchen - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Obesity is a problem that affects 40 percent of the children in Georgia. With obese children at risk for developing heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, it's become a health crisis.

Georgia has the second worst childhood obesity rate in the country just behind Mississippi.

"It's a combination of things that have gotten us here. You know, it's actually 30 years in the making, so there's really not one thing we can do to get us out of this problem. But if we really just think about getting back to the basics," said Holly Thaw.

Thaw, a registered dietician with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, says at least half of the problem can be solved in our kitchens. She says through Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's program, Strong4Life, four steps can get your family on track.

She helped FOX 5 reporter Tacoma Perry's family by going into her kitchen, and combed through her refrigerator and pantry. She pointed out what to keep and what to discard.

Thaw says the first healthy habit is drinking more water and avoiding sugary beverages. If you drink milk, look for 1 percent or skim milk. The second habit is to make at least half of your plate fruits and vegetables.

"When we think about the old saying 'out of sight, out of mind,' the opposite is actually true as well. In sight, we're more likely to eat it so it good have things in here that are washed and ready to go," said Thaw.

Fruit is nature's fast food because you can grab it, eat it and keep on going. When the kids are just hanging around the house during summer, it can come in handy.

When it comes to your pantry, stock it with whole grain products, whether it's in your cereal or pasta. Thaw says things like potato chips aren't off limits, but keep them in the cabinet so that they're not your child's first or only choice.

Thaw says to round out a healthy lifestyle, limit your child's screen time to one hour, and then make sure they are physically active for one hour. Healthy habits now will help them avoid being a statistic later.

"It's always good to start early when thinking about forming good habits. Easier to keep good habits than to have to break them and form new ones," Thaw said.

It also helps if you know your child's body mass index or BMI. That will tell you whether your child is at risk for obesity-related health problems. For more information on the Strong4Life program, click here! log