6 Ways To A Healthy Lifestyle
If you’re looking to keep yourself and your children happy and healthy – follow our six hot tips below:
Get active each day
- Regular physical activity is important for the healthy growth, development and well-being of children and young people.
- They should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, including vigorous activities that make them ‘huff and puff’.
- Parents should be good role models and have a positive attitude to being active.
Choose water as a drink
- Water is the best way to quench your thirst – and it doesn’t come with the added sugar found in fruit juices, soft drinks and other sweetened drinks.
- Reduced fat milk for children over two is a nutritious drink and a great source of calcium.
- Give kids whole fruit to eat, rather than offering fruit juices that have a lot of sugar.
Eat more fruit and vegetables
- Eating fruit and vegetables every day helps children grow and develop, boosts their vitality and can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
- Aim to eat two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day.
- Have fresh fruit available as a convenient snack and try to include fruit and vegies in every meal.
Switch off the screen and get active
- Sedentary or ‘still’ time spent watching TV, surfing online or playing computer games is linked to kids becoming overweight or obese.
- Children and young people should spend no more than two hours a day on ‘small screen’ entertainment.
- Plan a range of active indoor and outdoor games or activities for your children, as alternatives to watching TV or playing on the computer.
Eat fewer snacks and select healthier alternatives
- Healthy snacks help children and young people meet their daily nutritional needs.
- Snacks based on fruit and vegetables, reduced fat dairy products and whole grains are the healthiest choices.
- Avoid snacks that are high in sugar or saturated fats – such as chips, cakes and chocolate – which can cause children to put on excess weight.
Encourage and support breastfeeding
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended, with positive support for babies up to six months. Continued breastfeeding is recommended for at least twelve months and longer if the mother and baby wish. Fit Kidz is a breastfeeding friendly centre and we support mother’s who wish to breastfeed, express or bottle feed at our service.
Want more information about healthy eating?
Visit: www.eatforhealth.gov.au
