Raising Healthy Children

By Donna Stark

From those chubby cheeks to their chubby toes, babies are one of the most huggable things in the world, but no matter how much you like to squeeze them, there will come a time when you need to be mindful of that chubbiness. Now, that doesn't mean you need to put your sweet, little toddler on a diet. Most children will slim down on their own. It just means that if you want your child to maintain a healthy weight, you should teach them some healthy habits at a young age. Here are some tips on how to do so.

Doctor Visits

Since it is hard to determine what a healthy weight for your child's age should be, it is important to keep those scheduled visits with the pediatrician. Your pediatrician will be able to track and record your child's weight, body mass index, and height so that you will instantly know whether your child is within the recommended range.

Physical Activity

Active play is one of the most beneficial components of childhood. Your child won't even know they are exercising because there will be so much fun involved! And if you play along with your little one, you can fill your exercise requirements too! So, get moving by playing tag, riding a bike, or running around the bases on a baseball diamond. You can even keep the action going by taking an evening walk together. Just try to plan for at least one hour of physical activity per day.

Diet

We would all love to consume a diet that consists only of cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and french fries, but we all know where that will lead us, don't we? If you teach your children how to make better food choices when young, they won't be playing the "fix this mess" game when they enter adulthood. Try to encourage the consumption of more vegetables, fruit, lean proteins, and whole grains during your mealtimes. 

Beverages

One of the best ways to keep that extra sugar out of your child's body is to gradually replace their favorite juices and soda with water. It may be difficult at first, but with fruit-infused water, your child may not even miss the old standbys. The goal here is to completely cut out those nutritionally-void beverages from your child's diet.

Healthy Hugs

By focusing on your child's overall well-being and teaching healthy habits at a young age, you can help ensure that your little one will grow from a chubby little squirt to an active, well-adjusted adult!  So start those lessons today ... but go ahead and get that hug in first!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Sacramento, Calif.