Having teenagers of my own I can definitely relate to how frustrating it can be at times to get a teen out of bed and motivated to move their body! Gone are the days of kids hanging out with friends outside, walking to one another’s homes to spend time or just walk to the bus stop or school! Nowadays most kids are driven to school, and the only activity some get is in their phys-ed class as the rest of the time they are sedentary on their mobile devices or parked in front of the television.
With childhood obesity on the rise, literally having tripled over the past 30 years we have a huge epidemic on our hands. Physical problems such as Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease are becoming common in our children and youth. Not to mention the emotional problems that go hand in hand such as low self esteem, depression and body image issues.
How can we as parents do our part in helping our children to maintain a healthy weight?
- remove sugary beverages from their diet. Replace juice and pop with water whenever possible. Sugar is a huge culprit in the obesity epidemic.
- be a role model for healthy eating. Ensure you are providing foods from all 4 food groups with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables.
- eat meals together as a family whenever possible.
- reduce snacking in front of the television on chips and candy which is often mindless calories out of boredom or habit.
- control portion sizes by using a smaller plate.
- keep veggies cut up in your fridge for quick snacking access!
- perform meal prep on the weekend to have healthy meals on hand for dinners throughout the week
- encourage 30-60 minutes of physical activity daily.
- set an example with your own fitness regime …actions speak louder than words!
At Blue Sky Fitness Studio we have created an evening program called the FOUNDATION FACTORY to help teens develop their fitness level and improve their mindset. You can take a look here to see if it might be the right fit for your teen! We start first week of March 2017.
