A Busy Parent’s Guide to Preventing Childhood Obesity was the winner in the PARENTING (Child Care/Family) category of the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Shawn Elliot.
Receiving the 2024 Indie Reader Discovery Award in the Parenting (Child care/Family) category is an immense honor for me. My aim was to create a book that not only educates parents about the importance of nutrition but also provides them with practical tools to help their children lead long, healthy, and happy lives. I wanted to go beyond simply listing which foods to eat or avoid. My intention was to offer a resource that parents could read without feeling judged, emphasizing that being healthy doesn’t require counting calories or giving up our favorite foods. Your recognition of my work means a great deal and I am truly grateful. I would also like to express my gratitude to my daughter, who shared her professional expertise in guiding parents on discussing weight, bullying, and establishing healthy boundaries; and to my husband for encouraging me to write about this crucial topic, recognizing its significance in today’s world.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
A Busy Parent’s Guide to Preventing Childhood Obesity, published Oct 2023
What’s the book’s first line?
“If you are looking for a book that contains multiple research studies, data, graphs, charts, complicated explanations, and terminology, then this is not the book for you”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
A Busy Parent’s Guide to Preventing Childhood Obesity is an easy to read guide with realistic tools a parent can use to create a healthy diet and life for their children. It includes portion sizes, healthy swaps, how to talk to your child about their weight, tips for getting kids more active, how to eat healthy on a budget and more. We don’t need to count calories or stop eating our favourite foods. With a few simple changes, we can create a healthier diet and lifestyle.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Childhood obesity is on the rise and may be the greatest threat to our children. Parents are stressed out. They’re struggling to work, get kids to school and activities, get homework done and food on the table. Some may be doing all this on their own. They’re tired, overwhelmed and maybe battling their own expectations, and they need a simple tool that can help them create a healthy balanced diet for their family without adding any more to their plate. I watched an overweight child who sat on the side of the soccer field because they were too tired to play. I watched a mother weep when the doctor told her that her child had type 2 diabetes, and the first words out of her mouth were “I can’t afford food how can I afford medicine?” and I felt that something had to change.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
This book should be read by any parent who is struggling to help their child achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle and wants help without judgement or criticism.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I became an author after realizing that with individual nutrition coaching, I could only help one person at a time but with books I could reach more people in a shorter amount of time. People who cannot afford nutrition coaching can afford a book and get the help they need.
Is this the first you’ve written?
No, I have another book entitled “Where Do I Start? A Nutritionist’s Guide to Naturally Managing Type 2 Diabetes” which was written for a person who has just been diagnosed or wants to make changes in their diet and health but is not sure where to start. It has a six week budget friendly diet that gradually removes inflammatory foods without cravings or counting calories.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I love gardening and can usually be found working in my yard. In the winter I travel to Mexico and volunteer nutrition coaching as well as in the local community.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Not as much as I should. I have started writing my next book, which has a draft title of “Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?’ but I only have it half finished right now.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes, I would go traditional if a publisher came calling because I would love to have an expert tell me how to get my books into the hands of a greater audience. And, like many other authors, I have always dreamed of seeing my book for sale in the grocery store or local book store.