Be Active and Healthy

Be Active and Healthy

It’s a great idea to combine physical activity and good eating habits to achieve a healthy lifestyle and body weight. Sometimes, it is much easier said than done. We know that if we can combine them, they can reduce the risk for developing serious health conditions. It can also manage current health conditions, so they do not worsen over time.

When it comes to your children, how do you instill healthy habits? Remember, children form habits from their parents. You and your family can consume healthy meals and be active together.

Allowing your children to be a part of meal preparation is key. It can be as simple as allowing them to pick out a recipe, pick out a new fruit and/or vegetable or helping you prep the meal.

Related: Encourage Speech & Create Yum With These Recipes for Cooking With Kids

When it comes to activity, make it a family event. You can walk the dog, wash the family car, throw a ball or Frisbee, play basketball, ride your bicycles around the neighborhood or swim in the pool. Think of new ways to be active together.

Write down certain food and activity ideas your family would like to try. Place all of your ideas in a jar and pick one out on a regular basis.

Here is a good guideline to follow. This will help your entire family stay on track.

5 or more fruits and vegetables. Aim to consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Preferably fresh/frozen to retain fiber and limit added sugars.

2 hours or less of screen time. This refers to watching TV, playing video games or using computer or tablet; outside of educational purposes.

1 hour or more of active play. Make physical activity a part of your child’s daily routine.

0 sugary drinks. The best drink choices are water and low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk.

Allow these healthy habits to change over time. It will make life easier in the long run, when your family works together to live a healthy lifestyle.

Christina Bartlett RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian and the owner of Everything In Moderation. Dedicated to providing nutrition information that is tailored to the individual.

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• Looking for a Fun Family Exercise? How About Parkour!
• Waving Not Drowning: The Process of Making Fitness Fun
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• Turning Physical Fitness into Fun for Life

This post originally appeared on our May/June 2014 Magazine