Childhood Obesity Awareness Month provides opportunity to teach kids healthy habits

It's Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and many states are having events to help create awareness to the community.  this could pose a good opportunity to talk to your children about why it is important to maintain a healthy weight and also what is a healthy lifestyle.

But sometimes, talking about healthy choices can sound "boring" to kids.  Or even worse, it could sound like "nagging".  That is exactly what we don't want to do.  Because then we help kids associate healthy foods with "nagging".  We want them to associate healthy eating with "fun and positive" conversations.

Here are some tips on how to keep it positive:

• Instead of saying "You need to exercise every day"       say     "Being Active and Having Fun" every day for at least an hour
• Instead of saying "Eating Fruits and Vegetables"       say     "Coloring your plate with all the colors of the rainbow"
• Have the kids help pick the most colorful foods (fruits and vegetables) when shopping
• Have the kids help wash the fruits and vegetables and put them on the table
• Make it a mini family trip to the farmers market
• Have the kids make a list of activities they like to do

Share your ideas with other parents.  What do you do to keep it fun and positive for your kids.