Valerie is a guest blogger for the DietsInReview.com special series on Healthy Summer Kids. Valerie is an outdoor loving, flip flop wearing, fit mama with three young children. She is an ACE certified personal trainer and owns her own Stroller Strides franchise in Houston, TX. She feels every day is a chance to have fun and be inspired. You can find great fitness tips, ideas for healthy living, and plenty of mindless mommy banter at her blog Moms Living Fit.
Summertime can be summed up into one word, “fun.” Kids look forward to this time of year every year and welcome the outdoor activities, picnics, and gatherings. Why not take advantage of this summertime enthusiasm and integrate a few good habits to promote health and fitness in your children’s lives?
Get Moving
There is a lot competing for your child’s attention these days, especially on TV. Reduce the “screen time” for your kids and increase their physical activity with daily outdoor playtime. Invite some friends over, get out the soccer balls, and let them run a few laps in the backyard.
You can also do a summer challenge such as a 5k for mom and dad and a children’s fun run for the kids. These events usually benefit a worthy cause and you can increase your fitness health and give back to the community by participating. Way better than TV!
Veg Out
Summertime is a great time to enjoy sweet and refreshing fruits. Let your kids create the ultimate fruit salad with their favorite fruits and add some walnuts, oat clusters, and dried cherries. It tastes great and is full of vitamins and essential nutrients!
Also, get them to eat a few veggies on a homemade pizza! Grab a roll of pizza dough at your local grocery store, grab a few fun shaped cookie cutters, and stamp out the dough as you would a sugar cookie. Add some fresh veggies along with some reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese and dig in! Kids love to create and if you let them use their creativity to create new healthy dishes, they will be more willing to eat them! Let them amaze you!
Get Dirty
A great way to mix outdoor activities with healthy eating is to start a garden. For added fun, use the seeds from the fruits and veggies you’ve eaten to grow your garden! Going from “eat your veggies” to “can I eat them now” is easier than you think and the summer is a great time to start!
Get Involved
The most important element to creating lasting habits of health and fitness in your kids is you! Play with your kids outside, take them to the grocery store, let them create a meal, and let them help you in the kitchen. You will not only help them create good health habits that last, you might even create some for you!
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