Tips To Encourage Your Child

• Encourage your child to take part in group activities with other family members.  Playing tag and kick ball organize a neighborhood game and make it fun and healthy for all.
• Be sure to keep healthy snacks on hand at all time and encourage your children to eat a minimum of 5 fresh fruits and vegetable servings each day.
• Set a healthy example for your children; make healthy eating and daily physical activity a priority for yourself and for your children.  Most children need about 60 minutes of activity each day.
• Talk to your child’s school to advocate for healthier school lunches and healthier snacks.
• Be sure your child eats breakfast every day.  Skipping breakfast can leave your child hungry tired and looking for less-healthy foods later in the day.
• Plan healthy meals and eat together as a family.  Eating meals together helps children learn to enjoy variety foods.
• Eat fast food less often.  When you visit the fast food restaurant, choose the healthier options that are offered.
• Offer your child water or low-fat milk more often.  Fruit juice is a healthy choice but is often high in calories.
• Try not to use food as a reward when encouraging kids to eat.  Promising dessert to a child for eating vegetables, for example, sends the message that vegetables are less valuable than desert.  Kids learn to dislike foods they think are less valuable
• Parents Remember Your Child is Your  Top Responsible