Raising Healthy Kids
By, Julia Hepfer, Holistic Health Coach
www.innerglow-ct.com
Raising kids can be a hard enough task, let alone raising “healthy” kids. In holistic nutrition, the approach is to find health in all aspects of life: diet, exercise, career, relationships, and spirituality. So let’s work within those guidelines.
To help keeps kids on a healthy diet, embrace the 90 %, 10% philosophy- that is: 90 % of the time, see that they eat healthy, nutritious foods, and 10% of the time let them be kids. To be more specific, 90% of the time the children should eat: whole foods like brightly colored fruits and vegetables; whole grains like brown rice, wheatberries, or quinoa; lean proteins that agree with their body and their digestion, and perhaps dairy. The 10% that remains should be at the discretion of you, their parents. When they are eating healthy, nutritious meals on a regular basis, there should be little concern if they have a treat every so often. Note: creative cooking may be necessary for picky little eaters. Don’t be afraid to get imaginative ~ make bright green kale mashed potatoes. Give your creations clever names, and keep trying. Most kids need to try foods a few times before they are comfortable with them.
Children need exercise for optimum health. The early years are a great time for kids to try several different forms of exercise, so see what they enjoy most. Encourage your child to try a variety of exercises from soccer to dance, tennis, football, karate, swimming, or just running around in the back yard. Exercising each day will help your child reduce stress, increase brain function, introduce them to new kids, build self-confidence, and help them sleep better at night.
During childhood, kids’ schooling is their career. Help your child succeed in school both academically and socially. Teach your children the value of their education. Work with them to reach their full potential. By cultivating a good attitude toward learning, kids can overcome any struggle they may face. This is a life lesson that will prove to be hugely helpful later in life in their actual “career”.
Having a healthy relationship with your child is pure nourishment for them. Don’t hold back your love toward your child. Spend quality time with them each day, talk and listen to them with an open heart and mind. Love them fully and completely. The love you give your child will come back to you 100 times, so it feels great for you, too! Tell them you love them, everyday!
Finally, let your child know that they are connected to a Source that is so powerful and amazing that it created the entire Universe. That same amazing energy is within them. If you have religious or spiritual traditions, share them with your child. The soul of your child is entrusted to you, nourish it, and watch it grow.
Supporting the health of your child will help create healthy adults later in life. Best wishes, raising kids is a challenging but amazing part of life.
