by admin | Oct 28, 2013 | Blog
The obesity epidemic among youth today only continues to escalate. Due to the increase in modern technology, more forms of entertainment involve sitting rather than moving. Children are exposed to more computers, video games, movies and television than ever before, which in turn decreases the overall time spent expending daily calories. The resulting weight gain among our youthheightens their risk for possible heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more. This makes it all the more important for children to start exercising as early as possible. Besides physical benefits, such as improved bone and muscle strength, exercise is also shown to also improve one’s emotional and psychological state. (Image Source) By taking up physical exercise early in life, children have the advantage of a leaner, stronger figure, with lower risks of obesity. Running, bicycling, skating and swimming are several simple options that allow for aerobic activity, which improves overall heart strength. Stretching exercises will foster a student’s flexibility and improve the functioning of joints. Push-ups and pull-ups help build muscle strength, as well as weightlifting workouts at the school gym. Kids can get a head start in managing their physical health by choosing from a wide selection of exercise options, which will only prove more beneficial as they mature. (Image Source) Students spend the majority of their school day in the classroom with limited time for physical activity. As important as it is for children to be well-rounded on subjects that increase class performance, there is another type of education that is just as important for their overall well-being. Physical education is a chance for children to put down their pencils and...
by admin | Oct 27, 2013 | Blog
Champion the right to be yourself. Dare to be different. Live your own life and follow your dreams. For in the end, if we live truly….we shall truly live. – Author unknown
by admin | Oct 26, 2013 | Blog
Most families crave being healthier, which in turn leads to being happier in every aspect of life. Yet with constant marketing from TV and media telling us it’s “okay to drink soda sometimes” or “fast food isn’t that bad… in moderation,” we can be left confused. Luckily, we can take steps to get our children going in the right direction by giving them alternatives that are just as delicious as they are nutritious. Here are a handful of ways to get your clan jazzed on being healthy: 1.) Get rid of soda, and replace it with healthier, homemade alternatives. One of the primary reasons kids love soda is its high sugar and caffeine content. It is integral to just say no and to find other beverages for your family. Juicing at home is an excellent enzyme and nutrient rich alternative to store bought varieties that are from concentrate or that contain flavorings and other chemicals. Making fresh smoothies with your children is also a fun alternative, and kids love the vivid colors that wild berries or vibrant greens make. 2.) Make one night of the week Family Health Night, and discuss your individual needs. Lots of families enjoy a “family night” where parents and children spend time together, perhaps watching movies or playing games. Why not also make it a night to discuss how you felt during the week? This is a superb way for kids to identify how bad foods can create a lack of happiness or lethargy. For example, did they eat too much pizza at a friend’s house and then feel too tired to do homework? Or did they notice how great they...
by admin | Oct 25, 2013 | Blog
“When you really want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
by admin | Oct 24, 2013 | Blog
Eating habits are learned behaviors; they’re not intuitive. So what your children learn to eat at home early in life sticks with them well into adulthood. Today we are disconnected from our food sources in a way that is unprecedented in human history. Fewer and fewer Americans cook meals from scratch because it’s easier and faster to throw a frozen dinner in the oven or grab something from a fast-food restaurant on the way home from work. And the guerilla marketing foisted upon us by fast- and processed-food companies isn’t helping. Most parents know that their kids are under continuous assault by corporate food advertising — but they feel frustrated by it, and even powerless against it. In reality, a few simple tools combined with a mantra of “variety, moderation, and balance” will provide you with all you need to ensure the long-term nutritional health of your child. 1. Be a good role model. Most of the parents we know complain that their children refuse to eat healthfully and come to us in search of magic recipes that will put an end to mealtime madness. The real problem most often lies with the parents, not the kids. Most of us are so accustomed to eating out and buying prepared foods in the grocery store that we don’t even know what good food is anymore. We can’t line our cabinets with packaged cereals and sodas and expect our kids to eat like they were raised on a commune in rural Vermont. In order to be good role models we must educate ourselves first and then practice what we preach. 2....
by admin | Oct 24, 2013 | Blog
“One must from time to time attempt things that are beyond one’s capacity.” – Auguste Renior
