Consider the following health tips for kids

Keeping kids healthy can be a challenge, especially in a world where fast food and convenience foods have replaced healthier options. However it it not impossible when families and caregivers put into practice the following health tips for kids.

Start by making sure children eat breakfast everyday. For kids and adults, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast literally means “break the fast.” This meal replenishes the body after waking. A bowl of low sugar cereal, a piece of fruit and a glass of milk is a sufficient breakfast. Leave the toaster pastries on the supermarket shelves. These so-called breakfast foods are simply empty calories.

Choose snacks carefully. Snacks often get a bad rap because the term snack brings to mind chips, cookies, and candy. Healthy snacks include fruit, cheese, graham crackers, low-fat milk and cheese, and raw vegetables like carrots and celery sticks served with a small amount of ranch dip. These are nutrient dense snacks that provide what the body needs to grow strong and healthy. Since young children cannot usually eat large meals at one time, keeping healthy snacks on hand can help meet energy needs between meals.

Watch portion sizes. Today’s portion sizes pack a ton of calories. Twenty-ounce drinks, super-sized fries, and triple dip cones of ice cream provide too many calories for most children. A reasonable portion of beverages such as soft drinks, juice and other sweet drinks is about 8 ounces. The bigger portions kids eat, the more likely they are to gain weight, especially if they are inactive. Encourages kids to drink less sugary drinks and drink more water and low-fat milk.

Encourage kids to run and play. Physical activity should be included in any list of health tips for kids. Running and playing burns off calories and reduces the likelihood of excessive weight gain. Maintaining a healthy weight during childhood reduces the risk for nutrition related chronic diseases in adulthood.