Back to School (or Virtual School) Tips for a Healthy Year Ahead
The Obesity Action Coalition shared that whether you are home for virtual school or sending the kids off with a mask and hand sanitizer, back to school looks different this year. While we are not rushing to the stores for back to school shopping like most Augusts, the re-setting of routines remains a priority.
Considering life hasn’t been “normal” since March, we may need a BIG reset. With family time now meaning spending 100% of your time with the kids, try creating a democratic environment and have your kids weigh-in on a new set of parameters for a school year routine.
Nutrition
#parentapproved tip:
Please consider this while reading these tips: give yourself some grace. If you plan to serve healthy meals and snacks and set a schedule for when to eat, the rest is up to your kids. Model by example by building a balanced plate for yourself, but know that the rest is up to the kiddos. If the pandemic has taught us nothing else, it’s to realize how little control we really have.
For a more tangible tip, get the kids involved. Have them each pick a dinner once per week, and possibly one they can help with. In my house, my kids have some power over snacks – they pick the snack, but they know it needs to contain a fruit or veggie as a component.
The Area Health Education Center posted that as parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members, we are at the forefront of ensuring the health of our children and reducing their risk of chronic health conditions. We can do this by supporting and encouraging children to participate in physical activities that get them moving for at least 60 minutes a day, providing nutritious food and beverage options, and making sure they get adequate sleep. This sounds much easier than it is, and the reality of convincing our kids to step away from the television or computer and make healthy food choices is a daily struggle. Childhood obesity has become a major problem in the United States and it is crucial that we adults step up to the plate (in more ways than one) and show children that making even small changes can make a big difference to their future.
This information was presented by 
This summer we have over 30 students registered to participate in Flat Apple 2020. This FREE summer program is designed to incentivize kids to stay active during the summer months outside of school. The 2020 program runs June 1- August 7. The program allows participants to earn tickets for eligibility to win a variety of prizes at the end of the summer. Prize winners are typically contacted in September.
As a way of encouraging healthy choices, we are going forward with plans for this summer’s Flat Apple 2020 since it can easily be adapted to a virtual format. So, I am asking for your help to get the word out to every child you know from ages preschool to high school.
To combat increasing rates of childhood obesity in America, Healthy Lombard is sponsoring a running program called, Healthy Kids Running Series, that provides a fun environment for kids that also builds self-esteem.
It is springtime and that means Healthy Kids Running Series Virtual! Even in these unique times and more than ever we need to encourage kids to stay active. I miss the smiles and high fives but Healthy Kids Running Series has been hard at work so we can still deliver our mission of inspiring kids to be active!
