Health and nutrition start young

written by Kendra Zieman

Have you noticed that most adults don’t really focus on being healthy until they’re not? I’m not saying it’s too late at that point but I will say it’s a lot easier if you start prioritizing your health before it’s bad. Think about all of your struggles, insecurities and/or health issues you’ve had in your life when it comes to health and fitness. If you’re like most adults, there are probably a few that stand out pretty easily. Don’t set your kids up for these same struggles. We as parents are 100% responsible for teaching and showing our kids a healthy lifestyle. As a busy boy mom who was once overweight and unhealthy, I have a huge passion for health and fitness.

Childhood health and fitness has a fine line and needs to be approached uniquely. Make sure your kids are focusing on being stronger not skinnier, on moving more so they can be more energetic. Teach them about fueling their bodies with proper nutrition, not always about dieting. You don’t want to create body image issues but you want them to be aware of their health and the long term effects their actions make.

If these are topics you aren’t educated on yourself, make it a family effort to learn more. Remember “monkey see, monkey do?” If you wake up 30 minutes earlier to work out, walk, or stretch, your kids will see your efforts and more than likely they will end up interested. Find time during the day when you can spend even 15-20 minutes being active together. My boys love lifting weights with me or going on trail walks.

When it comes to nutrition, think about adding in healthier foods instead of only removing “bad food.” In our household, we use the balanced lifestyle approach. All foods are allowed and OK in moderation. You must eat proteins and veggies but I will not make you eat something you don’t like. As adults, we don’t eat things we don’t enjoy, so why would we make our children?

But remember, you are leading by example. If you don’t like vegetables and talk about how gross they taste, your kids will probably pick that up and say the same (even if they haven’t tried them). At a young age, my boys learned what protein is and the importance of it. I use this as a gauge to make sure they are fueling their bodies and eating properly. I often tell them they can have a snack or treat but first I want them to eat some real whole foods.

According to Michigan.gov, an estimated 35 percent of Michigan adults were classified as overweight and an additional 32.5 percent were classified as obese. These numbers would probably be significantly lower is we started prioritizing and teaching childhood health and fitness. Obesity doesn’t happen overnight but a heart attack can. Take control of your and your child’s health now. Moving your body daily and eating more unprocessed foods is a great start.