Thanksgiving is a wondrous occasion for all members of the family. It’s a time to feast and celebrate all that life has to offer. But it can also be easy to engage in unhealthy eating habits. That’s why it’s important to establish healthy habits in your child ahead of the holidays. Here’s how.
Encouraging Healthy Habits Starts with Fruits
As a parent, it’s important to start encouraging healthy habits in your child at an early age. It will help them make better choices as they get older and learn more about nutrition. When it comes to instilling healthy habits in your child ahead of Thanksgiving, the process doesn’t have to be as challenging as it sounds. Throughout the year, you can start encouraging your child to eat fruits instead of sugary snacks and drinks.
Fruits have many health benefits and are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants which protect against disease and aging. Many fruits have natural sugars that can satisfy your child the same way candy and chocolate do. In fact, they often have less sugar than processed foods and snacks — making them great snacks for kids who want something sweet but not too sugary!
Fruits are also incredibly versatile! You can pair them with virtually anything, such as salads and smoothies!
Establishing Good Hydration Practices
Another one of those healthy habits to establish is proper hydration. Hydration is essential to good health, so it’s important for you to establish healthy hydration habits in your child. While there are many ways to get enough water throughout the day, here are some good rules of thumb to follow for your child:
- Encourage your child to drink more water by making sure they have access to a large cup or bottle at all times.
- Make sure your child is drinking enough water each day by asking him or her about how much he or she drinks throughout the day and encouraging him or her to keep track of how many cups of fluid they get per hour.
- Avoid soda and other sugary drinks
Encourage your child to drink water first. Many kids will opt for a soft drink over water because it tastes better, but it’s not healthy. If you can get your child to start drinking more water, they will likely reach for a soda less often.
Getting Exercise
Exercise is one of the most important skills you can instill in your child. It’s one of those healthy habits that round out your child’s well-being. And it doesn’t have to be overwhelming for you and your child! Children are naturally curious and active, so weaving in exercise in fun ways will ensure good health for your kids.
You should figure out what types of exercise work best for your child and his or her schedule. You don’t have to run marathons or go on long walks every day! Try going for a walk after dinner or playing tag with your kids instead of sitting down with them at the couch. Something as simple as moving more can help improve your health and energy levels right now!
Furthermore, don’t be afraid to try new things together as a family! If they’re interested, encourage them by making sure they have access to toys and games that promote physical activity (e.g., bikes). Kids love being active because they enjoy being outdoors where there are no limits on how far they can go!
Healthy Habits at Buckley
At Buckley Day Camp, we encourage our campers to explore their curiosity through fun and productive means. As your child will be running around throughout the day, they’ll be getting plenty of exercise and learning healthy habits along the way.
To get your child active and engaged, please visit our website and get in touch with us today!