If you’re like most parents you worry about what steps you can take to keep your kids healthy. You want to make sure they are eating properly and getting the required about of exercise so that they can grow up to be strong and healthy. The most important step a parent can take is to model good behavior by eating healthy and making exercise a part of their daily routine.
I was looking through the New Dieter’s Cookbook and was pleasantly surprised to find these food and fitness tips. If you follow them you will be well on your way to having a healthy family.
(1) Don’t make any foods forbidden. This plan will backfire because kids are going to find other ways to get the forbidden foods. Allow kids to eat fast food, candy and other no-no’s occasionally and in small portions.
(2) Provide your kids with well-balanced meal and snack options while offering a variety of food choices.
(3) Have a selection of fruits and vegetables available for snack time. Good choices include: baby carrots, red pepper strips and cucumber slices. Also, have on hand reduced-fat dressing for dipping.
(4) Let your kids help prepare meals. Find some kid-friendly recipes and go for it.
(5) Participate in activities that get your family up and moving. Riding bikes, playing touch football, playing basketball, taking a walk, hiking and trips to the zoo or museum are all good choices.
(6) Leave the car at home sometimes and walk or bike to places that are close to your house and encourage your children to do the same.
(7) When assigning household chores make sure each child has a chore that is active like vacuuming, mopping, walking the dog, raking the leaves, etc.
(8) Track your daily steps by using pedometers and try to “out step” each other. Aim for 10,000 steps a day.
(9) Eliminate the amount of time your kids watch TV, play video games and use the computer. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends just one or two hours daily for all activities combined.
(10) Finally, institute these changes gradually instead of trying to make all the changes at once. One change a month works fine and in no time your family will have developed healthy habits that will last them a lifetime.