As parents and teachers, we all know how important it is to get kids moving. But they can move all day long, and if they are not eatiing healthy food--or if they are eating too much food--they'll still face health issues down the road. So what can we do to help guide our kids, and set the example?
- Keep plenty of fruits and veggies on hand and easily accessible. Keep a box of cut-up veggies on an eye-level shelf in the fridge.
- When buying dairy products, select low-fat or no-fat options whenever possible.
- When choosing meats and proteins, buy leaner versions.
- Follow portion guidelines. An easy way to do this is to follow the guidelines at choosemyplate.gov. A great way to start this off at an early age is to use a smaller plate for the entire meal.
- Encourage lots of water drinking! Keep bottles of water in the fridge and easily reachable. Send a bottle of water to day care, preschool, or school with your child.
- Limit suger-sweetened drinks and sugary snacks. (Say "no" to candy at the check-out line!)
Two more tips from The Little Gym of Durham and Chapel Hill: Never ever use sweets or dessert as a reward. Dessert can be a part of the meal but should not be the reward a child gets for eating their dinner. If you want to reward good eating habits, choose something like "30 Minutes of Game Time with Mom" or "Extra swinging time with Dad." And start the habit of being physically active every day from an early age. (Hint: The Little Gym classes start at 4 months and go up to age 12. A great way to teach children that staying healthy can be Serious Fun.)
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