From packing healthy lunches to fitting in family physical activities, keep your kids on the right track this school year with these tips.
Eat Healthy
Eating healthy can be challenging especially as days get busy with back-to-school. Use these tips to help your children start the year off on a nutritious note:
- Start the day off right with a balanced breakfast.
- Involve your kids in making lunches.
- Embrace food groups.
- Stock up on nutritious snacks.
- Focus on quality carbs and include omega-3 fats for heart, brain, and eye health.
- Read nutrition labels and choose healthier options.
- Consider balancing meals with whole grains, protein, and fruits and vegetables.
- Shop smart to save calories and money.
Turn food shopping into family time after school or on the weekends! Bring your kids along and teach them to look out for healthy choices.
Get Active
Kicking off the school year can be a busy time, leaving little room for physical activity. These three steps can help you find time to be active as a family.
- Keep track of how your family spends time for one week.
- Start small. Find two 30-minute time slots when your family can be active together after school or on the weekends.
- Get going. Try these great tips:
- Take a walk outside after dinner
- Ride bikes after dinner
- Play baseball
- Jump rope
- Shoot baskets
- Dance
- Walk the dog
- Play tag
- Plant a garden
Reduce Screen Time
Kids spend a big part of their day sitting in the classroom, so you can help your children spend less time in front of the TV, computer, and video games—and more time having fun as a family—with these tips
Turn off the TV during mealtime and talk with your children about what they learned in school that day. Families who eat together tend to eat healthier.
Limit screen time to two hours each day for children 2 or older.
Suggest playing outside after school and join in the fun.
Turn on some music and have a family dance party.
Be a good role model. If you reduce your screen time and move more, your kids will too!
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