Borderline overweight? I do not think so.

I took Audrina to a WIC appointment this week. After the nurse put her information into the computer, a message popped up saying she was borderline overweight. I was afraid at first that I might be one of the many American parents who can not define a weight problem in their own children, but the nurse took the note off immediately and said that she was obviously nowhere near that particular category.

My sweet little girl loves to run around like a crazy person, and for a three and a half year old, has an alarming amount of muscle definition. Sometimes I worry that she does not eat enough, that she drinks too much milk instead of eating real meals. I have known so many people throughout my life who struggle with weight issues that I never force my children to eat full, adult meals. Audrina has a snack drawer full of oatmeals, dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, and healthy cereals or granola. The bottom drawer in the fridge is also full of children's snacks; string cheese, lunch meats, fresh fruits, veggies, yogurts. I make her smoothies almost every day to ensure she gets enough fruit. I did keep track of the calories one day, just to make sure she was getting enough to eat because she seems so thin compared to the other children, and it was about one and a half times the recommended amount. She grew two inches that month, so I thought it must be fine that she was eating more. I am so glad the nurse was able to tell me immediately that Audrina did not have an unhealthy weight. I think I am doing the right thing by my children, allowing them to decide when they are hungry rather than forcing a schedule. It would have broken my heart to know I was somehow hurting her health.