It sounds simple, but talking to your kids about eating healthy works. A recent poll found that 82 percent of Milwaukee kids who talk with their families on a monthly basis about eating healthy eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water. Overall, they’re more likely to eat healthy foods. I recommend following the tips to help foster your child’s healthy habits today.

Serve a variety of healthy foods. Eating a variety of healthy foods helps us get the nutrients our bodies need. Take your child to the grocery store to see the number of fruits and vegetables available. I often let my daughter pick out one or two I normally wouldn’t buy. Together, we create healthy snacks with our choices.

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How do you get everyone in a family exercising together regularly? Busy schedules, varying ages of family members and weather all can be barriers to getting enough physical activity for the day. Exercise needs to be easy to access and enjoyable for everyone in the family. One of the best ways to do this is dancing as a family.

It’s as simple as turning on the tunes and moving your body. Dancing improves balance and strengthens your muscles and bones. Getting your groove on increases confidence and energy levels, relieves stress, and helps you sleep better at night. Children love doing things as a family. They especially love seeing their parents acting silly.
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This February, use Olympic athletes as your motivation to move more.

Aerobic activity makes our hearts stronger and more efficient at pumping blood. Including year-round aerobic activity not only keeps our hearts healthy but our minds and bodies as well. Even during the cold winter months, it’s possible to exercise both indoors and outdoors.

As the temperatures continue to drop, it becomes less desirable to choose outdoor activities for exercise. With proper clothing, walking or running outside still is an option. Fun ways to stay active and get physical activity during the winter months include: (more…)