Kids Health: A Guide to Help You Raise Happy, Healthy Kids
As a parent, your kids health is one of the biggest responsibilities you have and is not something you should take lightly. Whether it is in cities, towns, rural, urban or suburban – too many of our children are not as healthy as they should be.
The main problem is the SAD (Standard American Diet) and the shockingly high amounts of sugar and salt your children eat, sometimes without even realizing it. Many children are simply not eating nutrient-rich food and it is your responsibility as a parent to give them the right kinds of food to allow their young bodies and minds to grow properly.
The other issue is that many kids health is affected by a lack of play time. Computer games and distractions that come with modern life are taking your children away from healthy activities and more and more engrossed in video games.
Kids health is at an all time low, with one in every three children now classed as overweight or obese. One in three! It is a trend which is spiraling out of control and this epidemic is the cause of many new health issues for kids such as diabetes, heart disease, and sometimes even cancer.
The aim of this site is to provide you with the information and tools to help raise happy, active and healthy kids that love life and enjoy doing more than spending 10 hours a day playing video games.
We believe that helping children to eat right be active from an early age will encourage them to be more successful in both their school work and their lives. Some of the statistics on the state of kids health today is quite shocking. Here are a number of eye-opening facts you should be aware of as a parent.
Kids Health Facts
- Since 1980, the number of overweight American children has tripled to almost 30%.
- It is highly likely that overweight kids will grow up to become overweight adults.
- A startlingly low 2% of all school kids consistently eat well.
- Children are becoming more sedentary every day with only 6-8% of all children enjoying daily PE classes at school.
- Almost 35% of school kids watch 5 hours or more of television every single day.
- Overweight children miss almost 4 times as much school as other children which means they learn less.
- Families with a low income and minorities are most at risk of becoming overweight.
- Over $119 billion is spent annually on obesity-related health care and the US economy cannot continue to bear this cost.
Does that sound like the kind of life you want for your child? If we as parents do no show children the right way to live, eat, and be healthy then we could face the prospect of raising the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents.
Luckily, you still have time to improve your kids health and it doesn’t take anywhere near as much time and effort as people seem to think. Also, when you look at the benefits of having active, healthy kids you’ll see that it sounds much better than the alternative.
Benefits of having healthy kids
- Happier children. A number of studies have shown that a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of omega-3 fatty acids can prevent depression in children. When combined with an active lifestyle, your child will be less prone to mood swings, violent outbursts and tantrums that are often found when kids eat foods high in sugar and salt.
- Less stress for you. Not many things are more stressful for a parent than a child that is unhappy. Whether it is angry outbursts, depressive silence or a lack of a social life, it can be heartbreaking for you. When they lead a healthier life, however, they want to play and have fun, see their friends and will show you a lot more affection too.
- It costs you less money. Instead of spending your money on the latest games console or video game, you can take your kids to the park and spend time laughing and playing with them. It’s more fun, it keeps you healthy as well, and it saves money that can be spent on other family activities. Plus, healthy food is cheaper than microwave meals in many cases.
- A better education for your children. A major benefit of a healthy diet is the mental focus it gives you. For children this means they are able to concentrate better at school, work harder, and achieve good grades without any distractions.
- A better quality of life. Overweight or obese kids do not have the same quality of life as other children. It can be a struggle to play and keep up with the other kids and sometimes they cannot do what the other kids can – like using a climbing frame. With improved health comes a better quality of life as your kid will feel better about themselves.
- Less health complications. By eating healthier and staying fit, your children will avoid many health problems associated with a poor diet. By giving their body the vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals they need, you protect them from heart problems, diabetes, cancer and much more.
By educating yourself on the best ways to improve your kids health, you can give them the tools they need to live a happier, healthier life. You’ll find that having happy, healthy kids is worth the effort to get them out of the mainstream diet and into something that is fun, tasty and nutritious!