Managing Your Student's Diet and Exercise
By Brandi Goodman
Whether your students are home during a school break, such as the summer months, or you have them home for virtual learning, their diet and exercise needs careful consideration. A school setting provides lots of opportunity for fitness. Younger students have gym class once or twice per week as well as daily recess time spent on the playground or playing sports. Older students may have a daily PE class to attend or participate in a sport or other after school activity. A nutritious breakfast and lunch is also available each day. When you have your student home, you need to be sure they're getting the same consistency in both areas.
Offer Healthy Meals and Snacks
It's important to keep healthy snacks at home, as well as offer healthy meals. Kids need nutritious foods to grow their brains and bodies. Processed items are not going to provide what they need. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are your child's best bet for good health. Nutritious foods fuel the brain and body, enhance concentration, and promote a healthy weight. Junk food does the opposite.
Make Meals Together
One way to get your kids interested in healthier eating is to make meals together. Getting them in the kitchen and helping to cook what they're eating can make it a fun process that encourages them to eat better. Have your kids get in the kitchen to help you make homemade veggie pizza, or help you stir something on the stove. It's a great opportunity for bonding as well.
Create a Daily Fitness Plan
Your kids need a daily plan so they understand what they need to do in terms of exercise. Create a daily fitness plan so they have designated times to exercise, such as having them go outside every day after lunch like they might have for recess at school. Set a time for family exercise as well so they learn from what you show them.
Incorporate Activities They Enjoy
If one of your children enjoys soccer and the other would rather play baseball, be mindful of that. Making your kids do a physical activity they hate won't make them enthusiastic about exercise. Be sure to incorporate activities they enjoy so they can have fun getting fit and remain encouraged to continue doing so.
Manage your student's diet and exercise carefully for their best health. If they're home, they're not getting the same structure and daily opportunity for nutrition and fitness that school provides. Making sure they're still finding time for exercise each day and eating healthy foods is best for their well-being.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Decatur, Ga.