Here are a couple of quick and easy ways to reduce the calories your child consumes:

Change to diet drinks

When I counsel my patients and their families, I stress the importance of making small changes slowly to maximize your chances of long-term success. A relatively small change that offers great rewards is simply changing from regular sugared drinks to sugar-free.

Every 8-12 ounce serving of a sugared drink (like regular soda, juices, powdered flavored drinks, etc.) contains 140 to 180 calories. Four sugared drinks can have as many calories as a Big Mac!

Only eat at the table

Most junk food snacking is done either on the couch or on the run. Make a rule that all food must be eaten while seated at the table.

If your child is watching television and wants a snack, she