Being healthy doesn't have to be hard or take a lot of time. Intermountain Healthcare has
come up with eight simple habits that can help you and your family live
healthier:
1. Always eat
breakfast and make it healthy. Eating a healthy breakfast has many benefits
including improved memory and better concentration.
2. Eat more fruits
and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients that help you learn
and grow.
3. Limit – or
eliminate – sweetened drinks. Americans' intake of sweetened drinks —
especially soda and sports drinks — is linked with an unhealthy increase in our
body weight.
4. Watch less TV.
Children age 3 and older should only have 1 to 2 hours a day of screen time,
which means watching TV and videos, playing video or computer games and surfing
the Internet.
5. Increase your
physical activity. Everyone needs regular physical activity. More physical
activity means stronger muscles, less stress and easier weight management.
6. Eat meals
together as a family – sitting down. If you want to do well in school and stay
away from things like cigarettes or drugs, make sure you eat regular meals with
your parents.
7. Be positive about
food. The way you and your family think and talk about food and bodies can have
a big impact on your health now — and in the future.
8. Don’t criticize
about weight. Some studies suggest a link between excess weight in childhood
and parental concern about the child's weight status. Unhealthy behavior is
also linked to parental weight concern.
