Diet and Nutrition

Healthy and fit children

11/06/2000 10:36AM

Question:

How to keep children healthy and fit?

Answer:

Thanks for your question. My best advice is to be a role model for your children. What you shop for, prepare and eat is likely what your children will be eating as they don`t have much control over these activities. Children are very impressionable. If you eat junk food and do not exercise, they are likely to think these habits are ok for them as well. Teach them that eating right is necessary to grow, think, learn and play. Feed your children a healthy breakfast every day such as cereal and low fat milk, a bagel, fresh fruit or peanut butter on toast. Buy healthy snacks for your kids such as fruit, vegetables and low fat yogurt. Serve children water or milk to drink instead of soft drinks and excess fruit juice. Bake, broil and grill foods instead of frying foods to keep fat intake low. If possible, try not to reward your kids with food (for any reason). This may help prevent emotional eating in the future. As for fitness, encourage your children to be active by playing games with them instead of having them watch TV, play videos or sit at a computer all night. Get them involved in sports or dance while they are young (if they are interested). This will not only help them keep fit, but may also teach them the value of being a team player. I hope this information was helpful. Good Luck!

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Response by:

Lisa Cicciarello Andrews, MEd, RD, LD
Adjunct Faculty
College of Nursing
University of Cincinnati