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keeping your
child
healthy
by kodi wilson ? g race went from being tired to having tummy aches and headaches, and i knew she was not getting enough sleep at night,? says beverly hoffmann of her eight-year old daughter. ?she seemed to have lost the gusto she had just last summer.? determined to find answers, beverly brought grace to the pediatrician. the pediatrician told her that physically, nothing was wrong, and that grace was in great shape. feeling defeated, beverly still felt that something was going on with her child so she started taking a closer look at grace?s overall lifestyle and found some surprising answers. every parent worries about whether they are doing the right thing when it comes to making decisions about their children
and keeping them healthy. as parents, we have to work hard to instill healthy habits in our children so they can go on to live healthy lives, and teach their children to do the same. it?s important to keep up with regular well child visits, stay current on vaccinations and create healthy habits like hand washing and good dental care, but it takes more than just an apple a day to keep the doctor away and to keep your child healthy. to get a feel for where your kid falls on the health and wellness spectrum, your pediatrician is the key component. for instance, taking a look at their physical health, activity level, diet, environment, sleep habits, and emotional and behavioral health is crucial. physical health louisiana seems to be winning the wrong kind of race?the one to obesity. according to a report by pennington biomedical research center, approximately 1 in 3 louisiana children are overweight or obese. louisiana has consistently received a grade of ?f? for childhood overweight and obesity. the raising fit kids bmi calculator on webmd will compute your child?s body mass index (bmi) to determine if your child?s bmi falls into an underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese range. and, more importantly, you?ll better understand how your child?s weight and body fat contribute to his current and future health. activity pennington biomedical research center recommends that children engage in moderate physical activity at least three times a week for 30 minutes or more and in vigorous physical activity at least twice a week for 20 minutes or more. getting outside is key. many of the developmental tasks that children must achieve including exploring, risk-taking, and fine and gross motor development can be effectively learned through outdoor play. on the bright side, being outside also exposes your child to sunlight, the best source of vitamin d, needed for healthy bone and cell growth. diet and nutrition as your child grows, their nutritional needs will also begin to grow. children can be picky at all ages so making sure they are getting all of their vegetables seems to be a universal challenge. however, there are some things parents can do from the start that make it easier to develop good eating habits. cut out junk food. junk foods are appealing, readily available, and cheaper compared to snacks with lower fat, sodium, and sugar. soda and junk foods have been linked to higher risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and lower intake of important nutrients. stock your house with healthier choices. these could include peanuts, trail mix, pretzels, organic crackers, or pirate booty available in bulk from costco. add fruit and vegetables to the mix as well as yogurt, cheese sticks, turkey sticks and beef jerky. 7 0 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | f e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8
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