With a four-fold increase in the number of children and teenagers admitted to hospital for obesity-related conditions in the last decade, there’s never been a more important time to look seriously at how to encourage a balanced diet for children. So how can we help our children eat healthily?

One of the problems we face is that healthy eating has a bad image. Who’d want to go without their favourite treats or eat nothing but vegetables just to get that so-called balanced diet?

That’s why Slimming World’s Free2Go plan, designed especially for 11-15 year olds, helps young members eat a balanced diet without pain and deprivation. By reducing the less healthy options (but without banning them!), discovering ‘cool swaps’ and tasty recipes, it creates a balanced diet for children that’s realistic, practical and fun!

Our young members get a specially written booklet to guide them on healthy options (with some surprising and tasty meal ideas!) explaining in an accessible way what it is that makes a food healthy or not.  

A healthy balanced diet for children, the Food Optimising way

A typical day’s eating for a Free2Go member:

Breakfast – scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans and wholemeal toast
Lunch – baked potato with tuna and sweetcorn, followed by a toffee yogurt and sliced banana
Dinner – homemade meatballs and spaghetti, topped with cheese
Supper – Shreddies topped with strawberries
Snacks – a bag of Quavers, unlimited fruit, boiled eggs, sugar-free jelly

With the support of their Consultant and fellow group members, Free2Go really helps young people make positive lifestyle and diet changes in gradual steps.

A balanced diet for children – top tips

• Make some ‘cool swaps’ at meal times – switching chicken nuggets for grilled chicken breast, for example.
• Load up their lunchbox with healthy alternatives to crisps and chocolate – eg, chicken legs, fruit cocktail, boiled egg, Babybel cheese, Ryvita Minis.
• Homemade burgers, chips or fish fingers make a nourishing tea that’s just as tasty as the less-healthy shop-bought versions

Read more information on Slimming World's Free2Go plan and how to encourage a balanced diet for your child.