Use these practices that everyone in the house can benefit from, from children to grandparents!
Anytime is a great time to make and start following through on your family’s health practices. As it will help maintain everyone’s best physical and mental shape possible. Let’s look at our overview to help you started:
Eat healthfully
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares that poor diet contributes to heart disease, obesity, and some cancers. To help address this, you can start by:
- Bake and broil your food rather than fry it.
- Limit additional/added sugars, saturated fats, alcoholic beverages, and sodium.
- Choose variety. We encourage a diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy options, whole grains, and lean proteins. Use oils from vegetables, seafood, or nuts sparingly.
- Consult a registered nutritionist or dietician (check your local Hy-eve stores for options!)
Prevent sickness
We should all know the drill on these by now! Here are some ways to help prevent spreading viruses to others:
-Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
-Clean your hands often with soap and water, or hand sanitizer
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
-If needed, avoid large crowds, especially indoors.
Unplug
Too much screen time could lead to problems with sleep, poor self-image, weight, and low school grades, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. It is essential to spend quality time together with your family, unplugged, use this time to play games and activities around creativity, exercise, and experiment with new ideas.
Be encouraging
Your child loves to hear compliments and optimize statements. It helps shape and build their confidence and behavior.
Manage medicines wisely
-Only use medicines you need and know how to use them.
-Make sure to take the proper dosage or consult a doctor with questions.
-Store all medications away from kids, locked in a dry, cool place.
Be family, not a friend
Use proper leadership and guidance throughout your child’s life. Be there to help them with challenges and use age-appropriate words and actions.
Communicate upfront
Start by setting limits and stick to them. If the rules are not followed, there should be consequences.
Discipline over punishment
Using discipline helps children with self-control, builds their character, and shows them right from wrong. That goes much further than punishing your child.
Remember the 3 P’s – Practice Positive Parenting!
How much exercise do we need anyway?
Currently, the recommendations for children ages 3-5 should be physically active each day in various ways. Older children should be active for an hour or so with vigorous exercise. Adults should be getting at least three to five hours of moderate-intensity exercise each week. This is less if you are performing vigorous exercise. Seniors should be practicing balance training and aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities as their abilities allow.
Minnesota Parents – Be well and take care!
