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Submitted by: Jennifer Tarzian
We all want what is best for our children. In my case, it has been very important to me right from the beginning that my son live a healthy lifestyle. I didnt exactly know back when he was first born what all that would entail, but I have learned three essential rules that I believe promote healthy living for the whole family.
*Eat a nutritional and well-balanced diet.
Before my son was able to eat real food, I never put much thought into the quality of food I was eating and/or preparing for our meals. Once he was able to join us for meal time and ask/beg for food, I realized very quickly that the food I provided for us ALL had to be healthy. I could no longer feed him the good stuff while my husband and I inhaled a greasy pizza. He wanted to eat what Mommy and Daddy were eating so things had to change FAST!
This wasnt as difficult as I had expected. I simply sat down and made a list of the foods I wanted him to eat based on their nutritional content this included lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and very little processed and sugary foods. The next time I went to the grocery store I stuck to that list. Whenever I had the urge to throw in a box of cookies or potato chips I just asked myself, Is this something I want my son eating? Most of the time the answer was NO so I would keep on walking by. Im happy to say that my son eats a very healthy diet. Instead of begging for candy or chips, he begs for bananas, grapes, and blueberriesSERIOUSLY! The bonus to all this is that my husband and I are eating healthier and feel great. Being a good example for our son has benefited us as well!
*Get moving. As with everything Im discussing here, its all about being a good example for our kids. They so much want to be just like us, that they will do EXACTLY what we do, whether its good or bad. If we show our kids from a young age that exercise is fun and worthwhile, they will enjoy it as well. My son is now two years old and loves to dance, chase bubbles, run with his dogs, and go for walks. These are things he already enjoys doing and when we do them together, we both get a great workout!
*Drink plenty of water. Some parents probably think Im crazy but my son is over two years old and has probably only had juice 4 or 5 times. He went directly from breastfeeding to milk and water. Occasionally I will give him some watered down orange juice because, of course, he sees Mommy drinking it and wants to be just like me. But in general he only drinks water. He doesnt beg for soda because he doesnt know what hes missing and that is fine with me! Plus, he sees Mommy and Daddy drinking water all day long so he knows its the cool thing to do.
The most important thing Ive learned in these 2 short years is how impressionable children are. They want nothing more than to be just like us. Its quite an honor, actually. But also a great responsibility. I believe that by following these three simple rules my entire family will be healthier and most importantly, my son will grow up having already developed healthy living habits. I hope you find these tips helpful and I wish you and your family very healthy living!
About the Author: Jennifer Tarzian provides valuable information on the importance of natural products at
naturalskincaresite.com
And for moms and dads, be sure to check out her parenting sites at
youngparentsmagazine.com
and
homeschooling.youngparentsmagazine.com
Source:
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