Healthy Families
Our Healthy Families Project was created to increase the awareness of proper nutrition and the importance of daily activities for young children and their families. As a guideline, children who live a healthy lifestyle in their younger years will most likely carry these habits on to when they are adults. This will lead to higher emotional status which includes increased self-esteem, positive body image and they will have a better attitude towards school, friends & family.
You as the parent are your child’s biggest role model because they look up to you every day. Be positive when talking about physical activity, encourage and praise rather than pressure, teach kids why physical activity is important, get involved and provide them with opportunities. Here are some other tips so you and your family can enjoy healthy living:
1. Never use food as a reward, or take away food as a punishment
2. Offer healthy choices and allow your child to choose how much to eat, within moderation
3. Follow Canada’s Food Guide for meal and snack ideas but allow them to choose a less nutritious food sometimes as a “treat”
4. Eat together often (at the table and not in front of the TV)
5. Limit the amount of juice given to your child, instead give them water or milk
To view Canada’s Food Guide click here:
The basics of healthy eating with Canada’s Food Guide works with children 2 years of age and older, helps assist you with making healthy choices, guides you in choosing the proper serving size, helps you meet the nutritional requirements and provides you with options from a variety of the 4 food groups (Vegetables&Fruits, Grains, Dairy and Meat & Alternatives)
To help assist you in choosing the proper serving size click here:
For Healthy Snack and Meal ideas for kids click here:
6. Try to limit and track how much time your child spends in front of a screen (TV, video gaming, computer, cell phone, iPod, etc.)
7. Set a certain amount of time, if any, that your child is allowed to have screen time
8. Create fun outdoor or indoor games as an alternative to screen time
For fun and interactive games for kids click here:
To help track your child’s screen time click here:
9. Check in with your child/children when you’re about to eat together to see how hungry they are. Sometimes we eat when we are hungry but sometimes we eat when we are not. Click here for a helpful chart to track how hungry you really are:
10. It is important to be active as a family. This provides support and gives your child confidence. Make sure the activity is fun and interactive so the child enjoys themselves and will want to participate again next time. The amount of time and intensity that is required for daily activity depends on the child’s age.
For more information on Being Active as a Family click here:
