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Jean_Martirez's Blog

by Jean_Martirez from Los Angeles

Last Post 380 days, 6 hours Ago


What's your kid eating?
Mar 27, 2007 | 4:38 PM
Category: News
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When my own son was a hefty 24 pounds over the suggested weight for an average 10 year old, I learned good nutritioun is one of the toughest, most important habits to teach our kids. Glad to tell you, my kid's now a leaner, svelte 17 year old... happier too.

So, my heart breaks each time we run stories of youngsters like Justin Painter-- Only seven years old but already tipping the scales at 254 pounds.

How'd the situation get this far? Mom says don't look at her. She tries, but she has no idea how her boy keeps gaining weight.

A peek at her son's meal log from Saturday, March 17th reveals some interesting clues. Mom (who is morbidly obese herself) recorded that she fed Justin four scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast. Lunch comprised of five sausages, popcorn and a nutrition bar. Dinner was hamburger steak and sweet potato. Is it me, or does this first grader's meals scream fat, sodium and cholesterol to you, too?

Social service workers in Tyron, North Carolina have given Mom two months to get the child's weight under control or risk losing him. It's sad for the family but most tragic for "little" Justin.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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SirBlogAlot
Mar 27, 2007 | 10:08 PM

By the picture your son looks a lot more than 24 pounds over weight.
NurseUrs
Mar 27, 2007 | 10:16 PM

The picture from what I read is not of Jean's son but of the little boy "Justin".
Jean I am glad that you found a nutritous way to get your son in shape. My sons are very conscious about what they eat, plus they play basketball and they know they need to eat right to perform to the max. I can't understand how some parents give their kids so much money which allows them to stop at places like McDonalds to and from school. I've seen them drinking soda first thing in the morning..oh well, if they aren't taught any better can we really blame them? It's really sad and what's sadder is that it doesn't seem to be getting better. Talk to you soon,
SirBlogAlot
Mar 27, 2007 | 10:43 PM

Sorry, my mistake. I'll be honest, I feel my twelve year old son is a little "soft and round" in the middle but he doesn't drink soda and rarly has sweets like ice cream. Not sure what to do...
Jean_Martirez read my blog view my photos
Mar 27, 2007 | 11:24 PM

Hey Blogalot, my son's giving me grief for my latest post! Thanks for fulfilling his fear of being mistakenly Justin!
NurseUrs' kids have the right idea of playing b'ball and being active. My kid loves pick up basketball and the lunch time football scrimmage. When you're starting at "soft and round" eating right is just a start.
fabulust74 read my blog view my photos
Mar 28, 2007 | 11:02 AM

Hey Jean
I'm also glad that you touched on this subject also, and I would like to say this. Coming from a girl who has been on the larger end of the scale all my life, I would just like to say that being healthy doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be svelt. I haven't always eaten healthy. I ate like any other kid ate. My childhood diet consisted of fast food and junk food. But,it was always in moderation. I'm the same way with my kids now. I have a 10 year old that is a big girl. She's way bigger than most of her classmates and peers of the same age. But, she's not giggly, she's solid. She plays softball and is a ball of energy. She drinks a lot of water and loves fruit. Yet, she is still heavier than most kids her age that play video games and eat junk food all day. So, for some kids like mine I feel thier size and build may be genetic. My husband is a big boy, too. Always has been. He also played football in school and was very active.I just feel like kids should be albe to enjoy burgers and junk food as long as it is in moderation, and you make water and vitamins a staple in thier menus. What we as parents really need to do is keep them off those video games and involved in some find of sport.

Thanks for reading, Jean
ddain read my blog view my photos
Mar 28, 2007 | 11:50 AM

I don't understand how any parent can allow that to happen to their child. Don't they care about the effects? I think it's disgusting, and the parent should be punished somehow for letting their child get a head start on an early death.
Jean_Martirez read my blog view my photos
Mar 28, 2007 | 12:06 PM

perfect point fabulust! we're not all built the same shape and size. Too bad PE and recess are going the way of the dinosaur, so kids can't burn some calories on the playground, too!
TatianaH read my blog view my photos
Mar 29, 2007 | 5:43 PM

It's interesting, I'm an instructor with a boot camp here in the Santa Clarita Valley, and we had a "boot camp day" at one of our local schools to teach kids fitness...we had fun obstacle courses set up, stuff I really dug as a kid and you would think we were putting them in jail or something! They were saying things like "You mean we have to run to those cones? We have to CRAWL under the net? On our knees?" LOL one of the instructors said "Yup, that's why it's called boot camp". When I was a kid, I ate McD's but for the most part had a healthy diet, and I played outside from practically sunrise to sunset. No video games, no 900 channels on the TV. I have healthier eating habits now, I don't eat fast food and neither will my child who is 8 months now. (At least, I won't take him to McDonalds, since I don't eat there). Right now all he gets is boob, all he really cares for, except he does love apples, and loves to suck the juice out of one that I am eating!

I think the problem with a child like Justin is the mother will give into his tatrums or whatever when he wants something, she sees it as love when she gives sausages or cake or soda, not that she is contributing to his problem.
samo714 read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2007 | 1:23 PM

well i think the kids diet is unhealty, even for a adult. it's way too much for anyone to eat during one sitting. i think in the mom's mind it's normal because that's what she eats. but she's a adult, and he's a kid. kids should eat less, and as a parent she's the one that should be watching what he eats.
Lesvia read my blog view my photos
Apr 3, 2007 | 12:08 PM

Hey Jean,
I love you! I wake up to you and Tony every morning. I cried when I saw that news story about Justin. I feel for his mom. I hope someone helps her. sounds like she really didn't/doesn't know what she is doing wrong and wants help. Taking her boy away isn't going to help anyone. Teach her what to do right. That would help her too.
Two of my nephews are extremely overweight. They are 16 and 14 but are 6'3 and are a good 300 lbs. they eat alot and have since I've known them (12 yrs) My sister-in-law has tried to feed them less but they won't. they don't excersize. They are growing taller into their weight and have thinned out a bit.
What to do...
Jean_Martirez read my blog view my photos
Apr 4, 2007 | 4:47 PM

thanks for your nice note Lesvia.. Tony and I love you right back! The problem with this Justin situation is, it's not going away in two short months (the deadline imposed by North Carolina Social Services officials). If it were that easy, everyone would be able to get their weight under control in a snap!
Samo's right.. this mom is just feeding her child what she feeds herself. It's no surprise they're both obese.
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Jean_Martirez

Since 1995, Jean Martirez has co-anchored the Fox 11 Morning News, seen weekday mornings 5-7 a.m. She's proud of the Emmy Award winning work she's done over the years, but this blissfully married mom of two is happiest hanging out with her close knit family and reading what you've got to blog about.

Member Since: 7/4/2006


 

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