If Granny Can Squeeze Your Kid's Cheeks...

Chubby kids used to be cute—but today it’s important to realize that they might be headed down a dangerous trail. Doctors are paying attention to children’s weight as early as age 2. So don’t go into cardiac arrest when your adorable little child is deemed overweight because this time, with the doctor present, you can’t blame it on the baby fat.

As a new mom, you might be dealing with your weight loss goals, but can you imagine creating a diet plan for a 3-year-old? Easy—make everyone in your family follow the same your healthy eating schedule. Not so fast, super mom.

Children need special diets that differ from adults, so your dietician’s advice just isn’t going to cut it. Mold great eating habits now, so they continue living that way for the rest of their life.

There are obesity programs available for children, but since they are so new it is difficult to tell their effectiveness. Here are some tips from the experts can easily be integrated into your life:

*Have a doctor measure your child’s body fat. Every kid should practice healthy eating, but you should have a better understanding of how much work will be needed.

*See a child nutritionist. Little ones need a balanced diet but while they should eat lots and lots of fruits and veggies, those under the age of five should take in more fat than adults. Finding the right amount is key.

*Make eating healthy fun. Make a game out of trying those eww-y vegetables. To figure out what your kid prefers, try making different options each night and cooking them different ways. Chart which veggies are favorites and the ones considered just plain gross.

Has your child been diagnosed as being “overweight”? How do you make eating healthy easier? [Wall Street Journal]