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self-esteem;
* eat the right foods;
* prevent disease;
* and build strong bodies.
The book also has safety tips, ways to help your child say
"no" to drugs, a section on parents and the schools, a
bibliography, and a chart to help you keep track of your
child's vaccinations.
The Basics
Does This Mean I Can't Eat Ice Cream?
Good nutrition does not mean that your children cannot eat
their favorite foods or that they must eat foods they do not
like. Good nutrition means variety and moderation in a person's
diet. Choosing what foods to eat is important in pursuing a
healthy life. Your children may choose to eat certain foods
because they taste good or because they are available. Make
nutritious foods available and monitor the "sometimes"
foods--sugary snacks and fatty desserts.
I'd Rather Play.
Good health is a blend of physical and emotional
well-being. Exercises are basic elements of physical fitness
that should be part of play.
Aerobic exercises, such as jogging or jumping, that
increase the heartbeat, strengthen the heart and muscles,
improve endurance, condition the total body, and help prevent
disease. Anaerobic, slow, stretching exercises improve
flexibility and muscular fitness. Both types of exercise are
important and fun.
I'm Afraid and I'm Unhappy.
We all face stressful situations. With family members,
with teachers, with friends, and with strangers problems can
arise that make your child feel anxious, nervous, confused, or
frightened. Too much stress or the wrong kind of stress can
make it difficult for children to learn. Helping your child
learn appropriate and healthy ways of handling stress, through
exercise, proper sleep, discussing problems with an adult, or
breaking down jobs into manageable parts, for example, is
important.
You Sneezed Right in My Face!
A healthy lifestyle includes habits that will help your
child avoid diseases caused by germs. Material carrying germs
can be transferred through handshaking, kissing, coughing,
sneezing, or by other means of direct contact. Most shared
items have germs on them. Teaching your child how to reduce the
transmission of germs can help your child, as well as others,
stay healthy.
I Don't Feel Well!
A clean environment will support the health and well-being
of your child now and in the future. You can begin by having a
healthy home that is free of dirt, dust, and germs, as well as
dangerous substances such as radon or lead. Make sure, too,
that poisonous substances, such as household cleaners and
pesticides, are kept away from children. You can also take
precautions in preparing foods by washing them carefully and
cooking them at the recommended temperature. Outside the home,
you can work with others to help combat excessive pollution in
your community.
Important Things To Know
Nutrition and Your Child
They went to the cupboard... Today, feeding children is
based on concerns about heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and
high blood pressure. There is reason to be concerned. More than
20 percent of American children are overweight with a good
chance that 50 to 70 percent of them will remain overweight as
adults. It is important for parents to set good examples of
healthful eating. Research shows that children develop eating
habits similar to those of their parents. While it is a
parent's job to provide balanced selections from the five food
groups, children can be allowed a certain amount of freedom to
choose what and how much they eat.
Poor eating habits and craving for sugar snacks and fatty
foods may develop if parents fail to direct the decisionmaking
process. Remember that the issue isn't "good foods" versus "bad
foods". If children balk at food put before them, don't worry.
Studies show children will, over time, eat the amount of food
that is right for them if they are offered healthful choices.
You can't expect a child to want to eat broccoli if french
fries are offered, or drink milk or orange juice when parents
are drinking sodas. Of course, an occasional high fat food,
gooey dessert, sugary snack, or soda is permissible, provided
they are not substitutes for nutritious foods. Parents can make
eating a pleasure for the entire family by helping create
positive attitudes about food that will lead to a lifetime of
good health.
What are the five food groups, and how can we help the
entire family eat a balanced diet? The food guide pyramid on
this page shows how to select a balanced diet and how to teach
your child to make wise choices.
How many servings do you need each day?
Many Children, Teen
women, teen girls, boys,
older active women, active
adults most men men
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