With the problem of obesity headlining the news regularly, many parents are wanting more and more tips on how to save their children from the diseases associated with being unfit young person. The epidemic has been largely caused by a change in lifestyle and the advancement of technology. More and more kids are now spending their time indoors playing video games instead of being outdoors and doing active play like the olden days.
Busy parents rarely find the time to be out and about with their kids as raising a family require more income than ever, therefore more work hours. This unfortunate situation can nevertheless be reformed by committing to changes that will largely improve the health of the family. Parenting is no easy feat yet there should be no excuse in raising happy and healthy children. Here are some basic ways to develop a healthier lifestyle and prevent your children from premature heart diseases and diabetes.
1. Set a good example.
Keep in mind that children will often mirror their parents behavior. So before imposing healthy eating rules, make sure you show them that you do exactly what you expect them to do. In other words, start with yourself. Begin an exercise routine and stop eating junk foods. Include health-related topics in everyday conversation with the kids. Explain the basic food groups as you go along shopping or cooking.
Committing to a healthy diet is hard but as parents we must try for the sake for of the children.
Do your homework:
Healthy eating isn’t that hard: Here are 17 great dieting strategies to choose from (they are all frugal!). You already have very strong argument for point 1 on that list: your kids are your strongest motivation.
2. Enjoy your meals together.
This would include shopping together for healthy ingredients which doubles as a learning experience for kids. Shops are full of distractions so perhaps challenging your child to look for a heart foundation tick approved snack is a fun way to keep them focus on a goal. Likewise, involve them in the cooking process as they are most likely to eat something that they participated in making. Use the opportunity to talk about the basic food group and why it is important to the body in age appropriate ways.
Make meal times a happy experience for children to encourage them to eat what’s on their plate. Making dinner delightful and relaxed say, by talking about the great things that happen that day as opposed to what’s not, is a great way for the family to bond and enjoy meals together. So make sure that foul moods are not allowed on the table so as not to make it a daunting event.
Do your homework:
Eating together doesn’t have to be expensive: Here are hundreds of food and cooking coupons from Rather Be Shopping. You can subscribe to daily email alerts within that category and have great food deals arrive right to your email inbox!
3. Set time for fun exercise activities.
Limit television and video game times to 2 hours per day. And stop making the computer and games as gadgets for your babysitters. Instead, organize and schedule family times doing active play, may it be inside or outside. There are many game options available in consoles to at least encourage working out and moving about should the weather not permit any outside play.
Take advantage of these as they keep children interested with the visuals. Signing the kids up for sports camp and other extra curricular active activities such as swimming will provide them their much needed exercise. Experts advise an hour a day of activity. Look at local leisure centers or ask the school for more information. Or make time to visit the nearest park, have a picnic and play simple ball games. It may be hard to squeeze these activities into your schedules but remember that children’s health and well-being should always be your priority.
Do your homework:
Here are 100 ways to have fun with kids for free for you to bookmark. This will surely keep you busy for at least a year.
Kate Snow a frugal mom of two lovely kids. She blogs for on a variety of health-related topics including diabetic diets. She does not consider herself a health expert but she blogs about what she believes in.
#1 Nice to meet you!
In my opinion, eating together and, as you say, really enjoying meals together is very important. Not that your children will lose tens of pounds like that. But they start to learn the good habits.