FAMILY HEALTH
Family Health*
Help your family build healthy habits that can last a lifetime
Building healthy habits can seem daunting – for parents and kids alike, by following 5-2-1-0 from the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can take it one step at a time.
5 = Eat five fruits and vegetables every day
Eating fruits and vegetables can help stop disease and help people of all ages keep a healthy body weight.
- Keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter
- Cut fruits and vegetables into fun shapes
- Make a fruit smoothie with low-fat yogurt
2 = Limit screen time to two hours or less each day
When we sit around playing video games or watching television hour after hour, we're losing muscle mass and weakening bones. Let kids be in charge of their own clock and learn to notice when they've maxed their two-hour screen time limit. Plan family activities like game night, bike rides and museum trips.
- Keep TV's out of the bedroom to help the quality and amount of sleep
1 = Get one hour of physical activity every day
Research shows that physical activity not only makes kids healthier, but it also helps kids think better, too. Take few minutes to map out all parks within one hour of your home and make it your goal as a family to go to all of those parks for some healthy, fun physical activity.
- Bring out the old favorites such as Hula -Hoops, jump ropes, kites and play tag!
- Have a dance party at home – turn up the music!
0 = Cut out the sweetened beverages
Sweetened drinks have been linked to higher risk for getting Type 2 Diabetes. Water should be your first choice for a drink.
- Zest up you water with wedges of fresh lemon, orange or lime, or try mint leaves or fresh berries.
*hap.org
