Healthy Summer Kids Series

This week was Healthy Summer Kids week at DietsInReview.com. It’s the first of many new series focused on a specific health topic we’re featuring in the blog. We were thrilled to bring together a group of moms who are committed to keeping their own kids fit and healthy and share their tips and tricks to help you do the same.

While our kids have plenty of opportunity to literally enjoy the lazy days of summer, it’s important to encourage them to stay active and eat as nutritiously as possible. Whether you’re a mom (or dad) whose busy work schedule doesn’t slow just because school’s out, or one who is fresh out of ideas, you’ll appreciate the simplicity, convenience and enthusiasm these healthy moms offer.

Getting and Keeping Kids Healthy in the Summer

We’ve all read the statistics on childhood obesity- according to the CDC over 16% of children age 6-19 years old are overweight, that number having tripled since 1980. Summer is the perfect time to change our children’s eating and exercise habits for the better. We have 3 months to do it. – Kendra from The Adventures of the Headless Family

Healthy Summer Snacks for Kids

One of our biggest challenges as moms is to feed our kids a healthy diet that they will actually eat. The busy, hot summer days add the extra problem of having the school agers at home all day long. They want snacks and they want them now!  They don’t care if the food is wholesome or junk, in fact they’d often prefer the latter. So begins the battle of what mom wants versus what they want. Here are a few ideas that have helped us reach a compromise. – Rebecca from Life With Boys

Frozen Fruit Popsicles Make Snacking Healthy Fun

Summer’s the perfect time to inspire your family to eat more healthfully since seasonal produce is on sale and plentiful. It’s also an opportunity to get the kids involved in purchasing nutritious food. As a family, visit a farmer’s market or pick fruits and vegetables at a local farm. After you’ve shopped, get the kids into the kitchen to make frozen fruit popsicle treats. – Anne-Marie Nichols from A Mama’s Rant

Kids’ Food Tasting Party Encourages Healthy Eating

Summer brings with it all sorts of great fresh produce. But what do you do when you have a hard time getting your children to eat their summer veggies?  Here’s a fun idea that worked like a charm on my children, who range in age from four to ten years old. We threw a “food tasting party.” – Melanie from Girl Get Strong

Summer is Ideal for Family Fitness

I’m dedicated to setting a healthy example for my kids.  We don’t talk about weight or size or wearing a bikini (because heaven knows that’s never happening again no matter how many triathlons I finish).  Instead, we talk about getting some fresh air and having fun. – Julie from Cool Mom Picks

5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Active This Summer

The good news is summertime provides a wonderful opportunity for you to turn your exercise sessions into play time sessions with your kids. It really is the best of both worlds… because not only do you get in some great physical activities for your own benefit, but you also get to spend some good, quality time with your kids… all while being a good example to them about how to live a healthy life. – Liz Rosenbaum from Liz Rosenbaum Fitness

Creating Lasting Healthy Habits for Kids This Summer

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? – Valerie from Moms Living Fit

10 Healthy Summer Recipes for Kids

We’ve shared a collection of some of our favorite recipes from DietsInReview.com that put you or the kids in the kitchen. Everything from making your own sugar free gummy worms to frozen bananas and fruit kabobs are perfect examples of how food for kids can be fun, hands-on and still nutritious!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our Healthy Summer Kids series, and welcome your feedback below if you have any insight for keeping your own kids healthy.