Physical Fitness

The folks in Portland, Maine have encouraged their community to follow the 5-2-1-0 program: EVERYDAY eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, engage in 2 hours or less of screen time, exercise at least 1 hour, and, consume 0 sugary drinks. A recent survey showed a significant increased dedication to this behavior pattern.  More kids are sitting down and eating fruits and vegetables which means parents are serving them.  45% of kids are watching less screen entertainment.  Water is replacing sodas.  The trend is moving in a healthy direction.  This 5-2-1-0 number series seems to make it easier for parents and children to follow this guideline.  Do you agree?  If so, we encourage you to adopt it in your home.

… for the health of families,
ellen

Win a Whole Free Range Turkey (Shelton’s Poultry) for your family. Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes to enter.  Shelton’s birds “don’t do drugs.”  You can really taste the delicious difference!

"Most kids don’t come close to getting enough exercise daily and don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables: 62% of 1,630 parents with children ages 5 to 10 say their kids eat junk food one to four days a week. Only 14% of parents say their kids eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day.These results shed light on the reasons for the childhood obesity epidemic. About a third of children in the USA are overweight, which puts them at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and other health problems."*

We know you care.  That's why we have the Kid Kritics program so you can serve you family healthier foods they will like!  Lean on it to up your kid's 
consumption of fruits and vegetables and to down their odds of being overweight and sick.  By the way, hundreds of YMCA children are Kid Kritics!

Come see us at the Boca Raton, FL. YMCA "Healthy Kids Day" event this Saturday! Or, find one in your neighborhood and have some fun with your  kids!

                    … for the health of your family,
                    ellen and sally

* Hellmich, Nanci, "Survey: Kids Lack Exercise, Healthful Foods", USA Today, www.usatoday.com/health, 4/13/11.

www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com

Pick just one of these five easy to do resolutions to improve your mental and physical health in 2011*: 
   1. Drink more water (coffee and sodas don't count). 
   2. 5 days on/2 days off (eat healthier foods for five days, enjoy treats on the weekend).
   3. Portion control (don't overload your plates- also a budget saver). 
   4. Keep moving (get up and move around for a few minutes every hour).
   5. Sleep at least 7 hours a day (turn that tv off and go to bed).

Any one of these will have both a short and long term positive impact on the health of your family as well as you.  You 'll feel better and consequently so will they.  Do more than one if you want – may be easier to add another later in the year. 

Wishing you a Delicious Healthy Happy New Year!

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

* This is an abbreviated version of our 12/31/10 internet radio (podcast) show, Better Food Choices. To learn more, listen to it on iTunes.

2011! New Year’s is here again. Another chance to start anew. How many New Year Resolutions have you made? How many have you kept? Join the club. However this year, we are proposing 5 Lifestyle changes and are inviting you to pick just one. None are hard to do. We chose easy ones. Each one has long term healthy results for your family and you. Tune in to find out which one will work best for your situation and start this year on the right foot. Dec. 31, Noon EST at www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com or go to iTunes.

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally

Stunning Stats about Kids reported by the Wall Street Journal (Chester E. Finn, Jr., “The Case for Saturday School”, Mar. 20-21, p. W1) 

1.  ”The typical young American, upon turning 18, will have spent just 9% of his or her hours on this planet under the school roof (and that assumes full-day kindergarten and perfect attendance) versus 91% spent elsewhere.”

2. “American youngsters now devote an astounding 7.5 hours per day to ‘using entertainment media’ (including TV, internet, cellphones and videogames). That translates to about 53 hours a week – verus 30 hours in school.”

What does this have to do with food?  How about food for thought? From what and whom are kids learning?  Moms and dads, it is time to notice how much time is truly dedicated to a solid education and what is being fed into the brains, the minds, of your kids.  Only 9% of time in school?  Where are they the rest of the day?  TV, internet, cellphones and videogames need to represent a very small percentage of how kids spend their time.  What happened to books, board and card games, playing outdoors, and interacting with friends  in-person for social, physical and intelligent non-passive development?  It is no wonder obesity is an issue – kids aren’t moving much for at least 7.5 hours a day – just the tip of this iceberg. 

Until your kids have grown up and are on their own, they are your responsibility.  We know you care so please, help improve these statistics. Start by saying “No” to entertainment media influences. 

… for the health of your family,
ellen and sally