Be a Healthy Role Model

Actions speak louder than words. Particularly with children, the best way to initiate behavior change is by setting a positive example.

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the US. Children are constantly tempted by high-sugar, high-fat foods marketed directly to them and are drawn to sedentary activities like video games. It's our responsibility to monitor the food they eat and the amount they exercise. But, it's also imperative to practice what you preach.
That's why your America On the Move goals are so important - children benefit from seeing their parents, or other significant adults in their life, move more and eat healthfully. Your positive examples make it attractive for kids to be more active and make better nutrition choices.

Keep Your Kids on the Move

An active lifestyle puts your kids on track for healthy growth. Active play and other physical activities help them meet new friends, have a positive outlook, avoid excessive weight gain and maintain self-esteem. Encourage your child to:

• Walk with you around the neighborhood or to the store
• Take a class in dance, or martial arts
• Enjoy the winter slopes with sledding
• Depending on the season, tour a local trail on foot, bike, roller blades or cross country skiis
• Help you with outdoor work such as shoveling snow, gardening or mowing the lawn
• Play active games with friends - teach them games you loved as a kid such as Red Light, Green Light and Four Square
• Go for a swim with you

Smart Snacking

Healthy eating doesn't have to be boring or tasteless. Kids can learn to enjoy nutrition when you start replacing their calorie dense foods with fun, nutritious alternatives. Try these ideas:

• Help your kids make Ants on a Log (peanut butter-filled celery with raisins on top)
• Give them something to dip; try apples in low-fat caramel, celery in lite cream cheese, veggies in low-fat dressing, or fruit in a yogurt/orange juice dip
• Offer a variety of bite-size goodies like cherry tomatoes or nutrition nuts like almonds or walnuts
• Make a smiley face plate with a banana cut length-wise as the smile and grapes for the eyes and nose
• Substitute no-sugar-added jelly or jam for the sugar-rich varieties
• Create a snack mix of raisins, nuts, healthy cereal, and dried fruit
• Mix fruit in a no-sugar gelatin for a colorful snack

Happy, Healthy Kids

Childhood is for having fun and learning. Teach your children healthy habits by incorporating interesting foods and activities into their life.