Today's generation of children are the most sedentary generation in human history. Add this to the fact that 67% of the U.S. adult population is overweight, and our children are up against some daunting odds. An overweight child has a 95% chance of becoming an overweight adult without intervention. It’s up to you, as the parent, to set a healthy example for your child to follow. If your children see you making good food choices and embracing physical activity, they too will follow.
Here are a few easy ways to get you and your children started:
1. Get moving. Walk, jog or bike around the neighborhood with your children. Encourage your children to take mini physical activity breaks from watching TV or doing homework.
2. Make healthy food choices. Keep less processed food in the house, and both you and your children will benefit.
3. Organized fitness. This could be team sports, martial arts, dance classes. I-9 Sports in Florissant has a great sports program for boys and girls! Call Chip Wilson at 314-313-8036 for more info.
4. Read it, then eat it! Have your children start reading nutrition labels on food. This will empower them to make good choices. Turn it into a contest: Take them food shopping and have them look for cereals that have less than 10 grams of sugar per serving.
5. Everything in moderation. Never marginalize your child’s desires by forbidding certain foods. It will turn your children into closet eaters. Instead of your weekly McDonald’s run, make it a once-a-month occasion. An after-school snack of cookies or chips is fine, as long as it’s a once a day treat. You can also swap out any snack for a 100-calorie-pack version. This will teach your children portion-control.
6. Brown-bag it! Studies show that children who eat school lunches consume more calories than those who eat homemade lunches.
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