Healthy Habits Start Now

Is it too early to be worrying about your children’s heart health? If you want to give your kids the gift of longer life expectancy, there is no time like the present to educate both them and yourself about the importance of fitness and diet. 

Read the labels  

Salt is associated with high blood pressure. If you don’t read anything else on the label, at least check the sodium content, and keep it below 1,500 mg sodium/day or check with your pediatrician. 

Fruits and veggies

They’re high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and low in calories--a great way to control weight and blood pressure. Some ways to encourage the kids to try them:

• At the grocery store, allow children to take turns being the official fruit/vegetable ‘picker-outter.’
• Have red, green, yellow, orange, blue, or rainbow -themed meals.
• Add fruit to cereal. Create new pizza toppings. Invent new smoothies.

Praise noise  

Remember, if the kids are quiet, they’re probably online, eating or coloring on the walls. Physical activity is frequently loud. If they’re stuck inside, have indoor activities available like hula- hoops, a Twister game, or a mini trampoline. 

Lead by example  

Get out there and play with the kids. You’re never too old to soak them with a water hose, or find the best hiding places for hide-and-seek. 

Have you explored the neighborhood during every season? Or better yet, can you still kick the ball as far as the kids can? There’s no better time than now to find out.