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"It's bizarre that the produce manager is more
important to my children's health than the pediatrician."
~Meryl Streep
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Set specific goals and limits,
such as one hour of physical activity a day or two
desserts per week other than fruit. When goals are too
abstract or limits too restrictive, the chance for
success decreases. |
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Top
Ten Ways to Help Children Develop Healthy Habits
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Be a positive role model. If
you’re practicing healthy habits, it’s a lot easier to
convince children to do the same.
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Get the whole family active.
Plan times for everyone to get moving together. Take
walks, ride bikes, go swimming, garden or just play
hide-and-seek outside. Everyone will benefit from the
exercise and the time together.
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Limit TV, video game and
computer time. These habits lead to a sedentary
lifestyle and excessive snacking, which increase risks
for obesity and cardiovascular disease.
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Encourage physical activities
that children really enjoy. Every child is unique. Let
children experiment with different activities until
each finds something that he or she really loves
doing. They’ll stick with it longer if they love it.
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Be supportive. Focus on the
positive instead of the negative. Everyone likes to be
praised for a job well done. Celebrate successes and
help children and teens develop a good self-image.
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Set specific goals and limits,
such as one hour of physical activity a day or two
desserts per week other than fruit. When goals are too
abstract or limits too restrictive, the chance for
success decreases.
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Don’t reward children with food.
Candy and snacks as a reward encourage bad habits.
Find other ways to celebrate good behavior.
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Make dinnertime a family time.
When everyone sits down together to eat, there’s less
chance of children eating the wrong foods or snacking
too much. Get the kids involved in cooking and
planning meals. Everyone develops good eating habits
together and the quality time with the family will be
an added bonus.
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Make a game of reading food
labels. The whole family will learn what’s good for
their health and be more conscious of what they eat.
It’s a habit that helps change behavior for a
lifetime.
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Stay involved. Be an advocate
for healthier children. Insist on good food choices at
school. Make sure your children’s healthcare providers
are monitoring cardiovascular indicators like BMI,
blood pressure and cholesterol. Contact public
officials on matters of the heart. Make your voice
heard.
From the American Heart Association
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