Too few families take their children’s health too seriously, choosing to opt for convenience and ease rather than taking the route of good nutrition and regular exercise. It can be tough to teach your children how to lead a healthy lifestyle, especially if they’ve become accustomed to sugary sweets a weekend spent lounging on the sofa, but thankfully there are many simple steps that you can take to help encourage your children to make the right choices for ultimate well-being. So, if you’re interested in finding out more, then read on to discover some of the best tips and tricks that you can utilise now to lead your kids in the direction of great health!
Consuming A Balanced Diet
One of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle is a balanced diet, as the food that your children eat directly converts into the fuel that their body and mind uses to perform its daily tasks. If your kids are eating nothing but junk foods high in fat, salt and sugar, then they’re likely going to suffer in terms of health as a result. Diabetes, obesity, and even issues such as poor concentration at school can all be caused by a poor diet, so it’s vital that you can teach your children about how they can eat the most balanced meals and snacks that will help them to heal and grow. Healthy eating can be so much fun if you use the right tools and ideas, as fruits and vegetables are some of the most colourful foods that are extremely pleasing on the eye and you can use this to your advantage! Make a ‘pink drink’ (a blend of frozen berries and natural yogurt), form characters out of carrot sticks, tomatoes and cucumber, and use shaped cutters to make food more enticing! Always aim to provide them with 3 balanced meals each day, made up of complex carbohydrates, lean protein and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables to ensure they can benefit from sufficient vitamins and minerals.
Getting Regular Exercise
Exercise is another vital aspect of a healthy lifestyle, and it’s something that children can easily develop a passion for due to their seemingly endless energy. Getting your children up and off the sofa to get active is likely the most tricky aspect, but finding a sport that they enjoy can be of real benefit to motivate them to get regular exercise. Encourage them to join up to a soccer team, gymnastics club or even find something more high energy like surfing if you think they may enjoy more of a thrill, but always allow them to choose their own exercise so that they can identify the best suit for their unique capabilities and interest. Forcing your child to pursue one particular sport can cause them to develop a distaste for exercise as a whole, so it’s best not to try and direct them in one specific path. Getting involved with their exercise is a good way to set an example, as they will admire your participation and likely copy your efforts. Stock up on activewear and take your kids out for a game of soccer or even a simple run around in a local park, or invest in a family set of bicycles so that you can go on an adventure together while working up a sweat at the same time! Who says exercise needs to be boring?
Sleeping Well Each Night
Last but by no means least, if you want your kids to lead a healthy lifestyle then you must ensure they get a good amount of sleep each and every night. A tired child is not only grouchy and irritable, but also lacking concentration, disinterested and generally withdrawn. Depending on your child’s age, they will likely need between 11 and 8 hours of sleep each night, but this isn’t always easy to achieve. Some kids find it difficult to sleep through the night, while others dislike the isolation of being alone in their bedroom. However, establishing a set routine and sleep schedule that you do not falter from is the best course of action! Decide on one set bedtime, and make sure your children have changed into their pyjamas, brushed their teeth and turned off their tablets and games at least 30 minutes before bed. Artificial light from common household gaming devices can cause you to stay awake longer, so avoid overuse if you want your children to sleep well.
Encouraging your kids to lead a healthy lifestyle has never been so simple!
This is a contributed post.. ☺
