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Tips for Families to Get Healthier Together
Special to The Truth
Want your kids to eat
right and get moving more? With childhood obesity being a
major problem in this country, this sentiment is top of mind
for many parents and guardians. But you have more power than
you may realize to steer them in the right direction, say
experts.
Parents have more
potential than anybody else to influence their children's
behavior -- including their eating habits -- according to a
study by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In fact,
parents outrank sports celebrities as the people most
children would most like to be, according to the survey.
“You are the most
influential role model in your child’s life,” says Kim
Larson, registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy
spokesperson. “Modeling healthy eating behaviors encourages
children to adopt and choose healthy behaviors that will
benefit them for a lifetime.”
Setting Realistic Goals
Small steps add up, and
Larson recommends making healthy lifestyle changes that are
realistic and easy to stick with for the long-haul. Try
adopting healthy changes for the entire family, such as:
• Make sure your kids know
they are part of the team and that health and fitness are a
family affair.
• Encourage children to
help plan meals -- from developing the menu to shopping to
preparing and serving the meal.
• Serve regular, balanced
meals and snacks with a variety of nutrient-rich foods.
• Eat breakfast daily.
• Enjoy family dinner
together each night or as often as possible.
• At each meal, fill half
your plate with fruits and vegetables.
• Make at least half of
the grains you eat whole grains.
• Get active. Incorporate
physical activity where you can in your day, whether taking
a family walk after dinner or hitting the gym. Remember,
children and teens should get at least 60 minutes of
physical activity per day, and adults should get two and a
half hours per week.
Focus on Overall Health, Not Weight Alone
According to the experts,
good nutrition, health, and fitness fun should be the focus
of your family’s goals, not calorie counting, food
restriction or working out.
“You don’t want your kids
to think that a healthy lifestyle is only about how much
they weigh,” Larson says. “Concentrate on delicious
nutrition and fun physical activities,” says Larson.
For a personalized plan
tailored to your lifestyle, food preferences and the unique
needs of your family, consider consulting a registered
dietitian nutritionist. You can find one in your area at
www.EatRight.org.
By get the whole family
together, you can commit to a healthier lifestyle as a team.
Courtesy StatePoint
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