There seems to be an abundance of health and fitness articles these days, telling adults how to eat and how to train. Healthy eating and engaging in physical fitness activities may seem like a no-brainer for an adult, but often times we forget that our children should follow the same guidelines. Growing children can consume a diet higher in calories, but that doesn’t mean they can eat junk food all the time. Kids need to consume nutrient dense foods to meet their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, just the same as adults do.

This means a diet comprised of whole grains, lean meats, a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and low fat dairy products. While they should be able to enjoy their favourite junk food from time to time, emphasis should be placed on consuming these foods in moderation. By focusing on wholesome foods more often you can ensure that your child is receiving the building blocks to grow a healthy, strong body. The advantages of eating more nutritious foods will not only be beneficial in the short term, but your children will also grow up learning that healthy eating is a way of life, and are more likely to continue to eat healthfully throughout their adult lives. In the same respect, physical fitness is just as important for kids as it is for adults. With the popularity of video games these days, children are leading more sedentary lives than ever. Childhood obesity is at an all time high and the percentage of obese children continues to increase.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services the amount of overweight children has tripled since 1980, and in 2000 the direct medical costs associated with obesity totaled $61 billion in the U.S alone. Not only do overweight children have an increased risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, they can suffer from orthopedic problems, depression, and type 2 diabetes. Getting your children involved in after school fitness activities, sports, or simply spending time with your children doing physical activities like bike riding, walking or jogging are great as well. For the young athlete, more and more emphasis is being placed on training programs which incorporate light weight lifting, stability ball exercises, and sports specific systems with the aim of bettering their athletic performance.

Many parents may dislike the idea of putting their child on a formal training program but Gregory Anderson, chairman of kinesiology and physical education at the University of the Fraser Valley says that, “The idea there is to make children more athletic rather than just stronger.” Whichever route your child prefers, engaging in competitive sports or fitness activities for fun, both are beneficial to your child’s development.