NATIONAL CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH: HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and as a leading community-based organization dedicated to improving health, the YMCA offers the following tips to help families in the Dallas metropolitan community incorporate healthy eating and regular physical activity into their lives. 

The following tips will not only help families live healthier together but also help prevent childhood obesity: 

1. Eat & Drink Healthy: Make water the drink of choice and encourage everyone to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables by offering two or three colorful options at every meal. Once your family has chosen a new fruit and veggie to taste together, consider infusing them in your water. Place a full pitcher of water on the table during meals and allow children to pour their own water. Remember to keep full water bottles available in the car and backpacks!

2. Play Every Day/Go Outside: Children should have at least an hour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity. Join your children in games that get your hearts pumping and bodies moving. 

3. Get Together: Eat as a family as frequently as possible. Involve kids in meal planning, preparation, and clean-up. In addition, adults should take a break from electronics and spend one-to-one time each day with their kids, enjoying one another’s company. 

4. Reduce Recreational Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, tablet, cell phone, or video games should be limited to two hours or less per day. Make a family plan to reduce screen time at home (i.e. turn off screens during meals, charge electronics/screens in the kitchen overnight, go for a walk after a meal, and set a timer to remind you to power down the screen). 

5. Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule; unwind together in the evenings by reading a book or listening to soft music to ensure the body is preparing for sleep. Kids are growing and need 10-12 hours of healthy sleep per night and seven to eight hours for adults. 

Did you know: The YMCA has a program that helps families improve their health together? For more information, visit ymcadallas.org/fitforhealth