Fit For Life

FIT FOR LIFE
FORGET FAST FOOD AND THE MEDIA, THE BLAME FOR THE DETERIORATING HEALTH OF OUR
NATION'S CHILDREN LIES WITH YOU, YES, YOU, PARENTS. TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR
CHILDREN, THEIR TODAYS AND THEIR TOMORROWS NOW BY TEACHING THEM ABOUT PROPER
NUTRITION AND FITNESS. THE LIFE YOU SAVE WILL BE THEIRS.

Fit for Life

One in five children in the United States is obese. Simply
put, children are eating too much and moving around too
little. When I am teaching my Mommy-Moves! Stroller
classes, I am so happy when I see a child lunging around
the jungle gym or laying next to his mother pretending to do push-ups. Teaching your
children healthy habits at a young age is not only the proper thing to do; it is a critical component in raising healthy children and a major part of being a responsible parent. Kids are sponges, soaking up and emulating everything we do—positive and negative. Therefore, as parents we should use our kids' impressionable minds to our advantage, by improving our own habits for the better. You can teach your kids to stay healthy and fit by leading by example and incorporating nutrition and exercise into their lives now and forever.

EAT SMART
For most, eating properly is not about losing weight; it's about teaching your kids to make smart food choices by providing only smart food choices for them. If there is junk in the house, then you and your kids will eat it. Eating healthy starts with you—and what falls into your grocery cart, so here are a few tips that will help you foster better eating habits for you and your family:

	Avoid temptation: shop on the perimeter of the grocery store and skip the middle aisles where there is too much junk food.
	Get creative: instead of dipping chips, dip veggie slices into low fat yogurt dip
	Switch to whole grains now. Never buy white bread, rice or pasta.
	Make sure they are eating enough. Your child should be eating three small meals a day with two healthy snacks in between.
	Be prepared. Always have a healthy snack available like cut up veggies, fruit or whole grain crackers and nuts. Lack of preparation leads to desperate on-the-go food choices.
	Balance is key: watch the portions you put on their plate and make sure there are carbs and proteins in every meal.
	Water their world. Get rid of the sodas and sugary drinks and encourage your child to drink water. Buying them their own water bottle or two (BPA-free, of course) will actively engage them in the act—and responsibility—of drinking water.

BE AWARE
There is no need to count calories, but be aware of what you are putting into your kids bodies. Read food labels carefully, you will be shocked to see what is in your food. Stay away from high fructose corn syrup and sugary snacks. Pay attention to portion size when reading the labels; look at the calorie count compared to the serving size. Again, I am not advocating counting calories, just reminding you to be conscious of what you are serving by educating yourself—and them—on the foods being consumed.

GO OUTSIDE
Outdoor physical activity is essential in fostering the health and happiness of your children's lives. Bike, hike and play together, as much as you can. Encourage them to run, jump, skip and hop. Turn off the television, go outside and let your children feel the rush of the fresh air in their lungs. Got lazy kiddies? Your children will be much more motivated to get up and out, if you do it with them. Join a parent and me sports class. Your county park system should have tons of fun outdoor classes you can join together.

Education is the key to ensuring that your children have long and prosperous lives. Give them the gift of life all over again by teaching them now about nutrition and fitness now.

For more information on healthy eating habits, losing weight and staying fit as a family, contact Lori Sawyer, MA, ATC, at 732.539.7711, www.mommy-moves.com or lori@mommy-moves.com.