Change your child's eating habits through behavior modification
It is important to modify the behaviors that led your child to develop bad eating habits and encourage those that inculcate healthy eating habits.
Television Viewing:
Limit television viewing to about one or two hours each day (this includes playing video games or using the computer). Watching television doesn't use up many calories and it encourages eating unhealthy foods and unhealthy habits.
Snacking
Limit snacks to two each day and allow treats to be eaten on *alternate day or weekly. Try to include low-calorie foods, such as fresh fruits or raw vegetables . Avoid using high calorie or high fat foods for snacks, especially chips, cookies, etc.
Drinking
Encourage your child to drink four to six glasses of water each day throughout the day. Water has no calories and it will help your child to feel full but do not give it just before meal or with meal as not to limit his/her food intake. Avoid letting your child drink regular soft drinks and limit sweetened fruit juices, as they are high in calories (150-170 calories per serving).
Healthy Eating Habits
Plan three well-balanced meals of average size each day, plus two nutritious snacks. Encourage eating main meals and discourage skipping of meals especially breakfast.
Diet Journal
Encourage your child to keep a weekly journal of food and beverage intake and amount; time spent watching television and playing video games as well as exercising. You can also record your child's weight each week but do not weight your child every day to identify behavior that needs to be modified or changed.