The month of August is known for many things, such as it is the end of the dog days of summer that began on July 3; it marks the peak time for picking squash, melons, corn, eggplant, tomatoes and cucumbers in most parts of our country; and is the birth month of well-known people such as Barack Obama, Peter O’Toole and Cameron Diaz. But, did you know August is also celebrated as Kids Eat Right Month?
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, August is a great time to re-evaluate your family’s eating and physical activity habits and take steps to make positive, healthful changes. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has developed media materials to encourage families to begin implementing healthier eating. Portions of the Academy’s article are offered here:
Shop Smart. To encourage a healthy lifestyle, get your children involved in selecting the food that will appear at the breakfast, lunch or dinner table.
Cook Healthy. Involve your child in the preparation of meals. They will learn about food and may even be enticed to try new foods they helped prepare.
Eat Right. Sit down together as a family to enjoy a wonderful meal and the opportunity to share the day’s experiences with one another. Family meals encourage healthy family relationships and good eating habits.
Healthy Habits. You can help kids form great, healthy habits by setting a good example. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables, choose lower-sodium options, and make at least half grains to ensure your family eats whole grains. For beverages, choose water over drinks with added sugars, and opt for fat-free or low fat milk.
Get Moving. Aside from being a great way to spend time together, regular physical activity is vital to strengthen muscle and bones, promote a healthy body weight, support learning, develop social skills and build self-esteem. Pre-school aged kids are encouraged to be active throughout the day, and older children and adolescents need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition.
Source: 1 www.eatrightpro.org/media/multimedia-news-center
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