| No longer are diabetes and obesity a problem just for | | | | habit of walking a local trail or bike path together. Find |
| grown-ups. More and more children are being affected | | | | kid friendly events to go to together. Our family likes to |
| by these life changing conditions as well. As parents | | | | find a fun run each month to participate in as a family. |
| there is a ton that we can do to help our children learn | | | | We like to look for ones that have shorter distances |
| how to be healthy and LOVE doing it. Following are | | | | that the younger kids can do as well. It's a lot of fun! |
| some tips on how to do just that. | | | | 4. Try new recipes. Expose your children to new |
| 1. Start young. Just because they are little, don't be | | | | recipes frequently. Children, as well as adults, are |
| afraid to introduce healthy moving and eating. It is way | | | | creatures of habit. We like the same old foods over |
| easier to make these kinds of habits when they are | | | | and over again. It's comforting. It can be a struggle to |
| young. As they get older it gets harder. It isn't | | | | get kids to eat new things, but if you offer new things |
| impossible to help teenagers form good habits, but it | | | | often enough, they will get used to trying new things |
| definitely takes a lot more work, education, patience | | | | and won't fight you as much. I try to find a couple of |
| and persistence. | | | | new recipes each week to serve to my family. It |
| 2. Turn off the electronics. Limit the exposure to these | | | | takes patience, but eventually you will find some things |
| kinds of activities to no more than an hour a day. It | | | | that are healthy substitutions for your family's unhealthy |
| may have been a while, but without the distraction of | | | | favorites that you kids and spouse will actually eat. |
| all of the electronics, kids do learn how to play "kid | | | | 5. Be an example. This is the big one. Your kids watch |
| games" again. It will make a huge difference in the | | | | you and do what you do even if they don't want to. If |
| activity level of everyone in the house. | | | | you are trying to learn and grow and be healthy, they |
| 3. Find an activity you like to do as a family. Maybe | | | | will see that and it WILL make an impression. |
| you like to ski. Take the kids with you. Try a weekly | | | | |