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Writer's picturemelissapetrichko

Five tips to improve children's health.

Updated: Aug 5, 2023



"It is in the very early stages of life that dietary habits are ingrained, which gives us a window of time when something can be done to improve nutrition. It is imperative that we deploy early intervention strategies to ensure the prevention of obesity."

– Professor Christine Pascal


With the rate of childhood obesity on the rise, children are being diagnosed with adult-onset diseases prematurely. Pediatricians nationwide are incredibly concerned with their patients becoming afflicted with heart disease and type 2 diabetes at disturbingly early ages due to being overweight and sedentary. For the first time in our history, parents could outlive their children. The sad thing about this shocking statistic is that it is preventable through improvements in lifestyle, exercise, attitude, and nutrition behaviors and habits.

 

You don't need to recreate your entire life to make substantial progress improved your kid's physical, mental, and emotional health. Here are a few small places to start to make big changes:


Avoid or limit highly processed foods. Many food additives do not provide any nutritional value and can be potentially dangerous over time. Focusing on eliminating these three food additives from your family's diet will significantly improve your mental, emotional, and physical health.

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup

  • Trans Fats (Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil)

  • Any colored dye (especially those with a # sign)

Include vegetables in every meal and some fruit every day. Fresh produce is nature's medicine and provides the body with vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Vegetables and fruits are necessary to enjoy a lifetime of health and wellness.


Eliminate or limit sodas and juices. Sodas, popularly nicknamed "fat juice," are loaded with chemicals and additives the body does not recognize as "real food" and hold no nutritional value. Although sometimes made with natural fruits, fruit juices are high in sugar due to fiber removal during the juicing process. Limit the juice your family consumes and dilute it with water if possible.


Serve whole food in well-balanced meals. Eating real and natural food purchased from the grocery store's produce, meat, seafood, and dairy sections is most likely whole foods. When you take detours off the grocery store perimeter and venture down the various isles, you will run into more processed foods than if you stick to the outer walls. Learning to read labels and being aware of what is in your food is necessary for better health and something you will learn in the upcoming course.


Send your kids off to school with a brainy breakfast. Setting up children for school success begins with good morning nutrition. In the group class, you will learn how to make a brainy breakfast and receive recipes and ideas. What is a brainy breakfast? A brainy breakfast is low in sugar (less than 6 grams per serving), high in protein (at least 3 grams or more per serving), and high in fiber (at least 3 grams or more per serving). This breakfast formula builds brighter brains, promotes better behavior and mood, and helps control weight. What you start your day with sets the tone for the rest of your day, and a brainy breakfast sets your child up for improved health all day long.


If you found the information in this post beneficial, please share it with your friends and family and through social media. Help others live happier, healthier, and more purposeful lives through simple lifestyle, exercise, attitude, and nutrition habits.

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