Some Fat Chance

I'm going to try and post a little more often this week so I'm starting a short series on how we as homeschooling moms can promote a healthy lifestyle for our children. We're going to talk about the high fat content of our culture and its inherent danger to our families. I'd like to encourage each one of you into a more mobile lifestyle and one that's relatively free of the refined sugars and fast foods so common these days. Also the concept of exercise is waning and I'll explain that right now. So enjoy and let me know what you think. If you have questions, please ask them. If you have comments, state them.

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Today our children are at risk. Some of them are overweight. The bad news is overweight children can grow into obese adults and carry with them a higher risk for coronary disease, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and self-image problems.

The good news is the risk is lessened with a change of behavior. It's up to parents—not the government--to provide their children with the information they need to promote a healthy lifestyle. "Ninety-nine percent of us are born healthy and are made sick as a result of personal misbehavior or environmental conditions. The ability to lengthen one's life depends first on the capacity not to shorten it." (Dr. John Knowles of the Rockefeller Foundation)

Crash diets aren't the answer. The focus must be on health--not just on losing weight. Plenty of exercise and nutritious foods all contribute to the health of our children.

Get moving

Kids have reasons for not getting up and moving their bodies. Computers, the internet, television, and video games offer them distractions. They don't play as much anymore—inside or outside—on a regular basis. Who needs to play outside when your social life is wrapped up on Facebook?

The average American child watches TV for 28 hours per week. By the time that child is a senior in high school, he has spent three years of his life watching TV. What do they have to show for it?

Did you know that 40% of boys can't touch their toes and that girls run slower than they did ten years ago? Kids have to get moving. They do that through exercise.

Exercise reduces body fat by burning calories and revs up the metabolism to keep the burn going. What can kids do for exercise? They can ride bikes, run around the yard playing tag, chase the dog, roller skate, have fun exploring with their friends. Or they can participate in community sports like soccer, baseball, basketball or any of the martial arts. Schedule those activities into their day. Parents, you can set the example for your kids by getting active too. Park the car farther away and walk. Toss a ball with your children. Get involved with a local tae-kwon-do class or coach soccer.