Health Foods Blog

As a father of 2 young children, I’m always searching for ways to improve my family’s physical fitness. We live in a world of technology and let’s face it, kids love their video games and their television. However, not enough fitness can make JOHNNY an overweight little boy. Start eating healthy now and exercising and your kids will grow up to enjoy it; it will be a part of their lives. Life is balance and eating healthy and fitness should be part of that balance. What better way to enjoy fitness than as a family? Here are some tips and we’ll start with nutrition.

1. Carry healthy snacks around in the car with you. Fruits grow in hot weather. Fruits are in most cases non-perishable so apples and oranges can remain for days in a hot car in hot weather. An apple or an orange snack is much better than a snack at the local drive through. Also, carry water with you in the car. Hot water doesn’t taste well but it’s fine to keep it in your car many months throughout the year. Plus, it’s much healthier than a diet coke or a sugar filled coffee drink.

2. Just because your on a low-carb diet doesn’t mean your kids need to be on a low carb diet. Therefore, rice, beans and other healthy carbs can be part of their diet in moderation. If you want your kids to enjoy fitness and exercise, they need the energy. A few potatoes and a bit of pasta are not a bad thing. Just skip the cookies.

3. Processed carbohydrates are the worst thing for your family and therefore, you’ll be much better off if the shelves in your home have as little as possible of cookies, sweet cereal, candy, ice cream etc. If your kids don’t eat these foods when their young, they probably won’t when their older. Am I saying that they shouldn’t have a treat? Of course not, in fact there is nothing cuter than a child with an ice cream moustache. It just should not be a part of your daily diet.

 4. Vegetables should be part of every meal. Find the vegetables that your children will eat. I’m going to let you in on a little secret that may hit home. If you really believe that your children do not like vegetables, it’s probably because you don’t like vegetables. There has been no child born in the history of the world with a warning label - Caution: Does not like string beans, lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions etc. You get my point.

Now the fitness part:

1. All children should be in some of physical fitness program. This doesn’t mean that you should enroll you five year old in a Gold’s Gym but most boys love things such as Karate and Soccer and Soccer, Dance, Twirling and Cheerleading are perfect examples of effective physical fitness for the young girls in the family.

2. I never met a young kid who doesn’t love to play tag or Hide and Seek. These are great ways to promote physical fitness and still have fun doing it.

3. Take vacations that allow you to have the time of your life while still enjoying an active lifestyle. Water parks are great, so are amusement parks. I’ve never been a big fan of cruises because of the restrictive nature. As the kids get older, book golf vacations and vacations that promote walking. Tanning on a beach may make you look good but it doesn’t do much for your physical fitness.

4. Family summer walks are great. When the kids are young, take them to a park or better yet, walk to a park. Your kids will cherish the memories and it will keep you young and healthy.

Most importantly, family physical fitness will form the family bond and will help build the family. Maintain an active lifestyle, eat healthy and smile.

I hope you enjoyed this post.