Child health starts with the parents and the habits they instill throughout the child’s life. Some doctors believe that 70 to 80 percent of a person’s life expectancy is a result of the habits they choose during their life. Making sure they eat healthy, exercise frequently, and get adequate sleep are easy ways to ensure that your child will be in top shape. Here are some tips on teaching your family about the importance of child health and nutrition.
With childhood obesity reaching epidemic proportions, it is more important than ever to teach your child healthy habits. A “diet” is a temporary solution to a child’s weight problem. It is far more effective to show them how food affects their health and to explain how to make good nutritional choices. A child who eats well and is physically active is far less likely to become obese or develop diet-related diseases such as diabetes.
It may seem like it would be impossible to teach a child to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables instead of sugary junk food, but the truth is that most kids will choose these natural foods if presented correctly. The first key is to teach your children how the body digests food and that excess calories are converted to fat. When they are a bit older, you can explain the concept of “empty calories” and talk to them about avoiding processed sugars and starches.
The best way to encourage child health and make nutritious foods look appealing is to always offer your child a variety of good foods to choose from. This way they do not feel forced into eating something they do not want at the moment, but they are still always getting a nutritious snack. After all, up until a certain age, the parent controls the type of food that is available in the home. If you only bring in healthy options, your children will adapt and might even learn that they like some types of fruits or vegetables.
In addition to proper diet and nutrition, exercise is vital to good child health. Current guidelines recommend a minimum of an hour of physical activity every day to stay at optimum health. Other family members such as grandparents or siblings can join in the activity and get some beneficial exercise along with your child. This is a great way to spend quality time together that can be fun for everyone. Too often, family time is spent doing activities that either challenge the child’s attention span or are too kid-oriented to be fun for the adults. Playing outside is one way to level the field and promote adult and child health at the same time.
Some fun activities for the whole family include hiking, bicycling, or walking. Other less traditional activities that require physical movement are also great exercise for children and the more active family members. Skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, dancing, or gymnastics are all very challenging activities that will also keep your kids interested in staying fit.
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