Implementing Diet and Exercise for Your Kids
By Brandi Goodman
Children need physical activity. They also need to eat a proper diet. There are times when they don't want either. As a parent, it's your job to implement diet and exercise for your kids and make sure they're engaging in healthy habits. There's ways to make it easier on yourself and on them.
Include Your Kids in the Cooking
Don't do all the cooking for everyone. It's easier for kids to disagree with what's for dinner if they didn't see the effort it took to make it. Encourage your kids to get in the kitchen with you and help you cook. It will help them see the effort it takes to make a meal and allow them to learn about the importance of nutrition. They'll be more likely to want to give healthier foods a try if they helped make the dish.
Keep Healthy Snacks on Hand
If your kids see chips and cookies in the cupboard, they're going to want to eat them. Keep healthy snacks on hand so they're encouraged to eat more nutritional foods instead. With a choice of only apples or carrot sticks for a snack, they'll have to pick one of them. Snacking like this when they're younger will have them making smarter choices as they get older as well.
Make It a Family Exercise
It may not work well if you simply tell your kids to get up and exercise. Make it a family exercise instead and they'll be more likely to want to get involved. Go on a family bike ride. Spend a day hiking. Take a walk around the neighborhood. When you do things with them, it shows them it's important and provides bonding time.
Let Them Pick Their Activities
Never sign your kids up for the activities you want them to do. Let them pick out the ones they like themselves. They'll be more likely to skip practice or avoid giving it their all if it's something they don't enjoy. Kids who get to pick out the activities they do or sports they participate will usually put in more effort. The same goes for exercise at home. Give them a choice of what they get up and do for the day so they can feel glad they get to do it rather than like it's a chore.
Diet and exercise is important for all ages. It's wise to start teaching your kids about the importance of good health when they're young so they grow with healthy habits. It will lead them to make smarter choices now and in the future.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Evans, Ga.