BE A FIT KID
There's a lot of discussion these days about fit kids. Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity (exercise), sufficient sleep, and has a healthy weight. If you're fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends.
Some steps only parents can take - such as serving healthy meals or deciding to take the family on a nature hike. But kids can take charge, too, when it comes to health. Here are five rules to live by, if you're a kid who wants to be fit. The trick is to follow these rules most of the time, knowing that some days (like your birthday) might call for cake and ice cream.
1. Eat a variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
2. Drink water and milk most often.
3. Listen to your body. What does it feel like to be full? When you're eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full. Sometimes, people eat too much because they don't notice when they need to stop eating. Eating too much can make you feel uncomfortable, and over a period of time, it can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
4. Limit screen time. What's screen time? It's the amount of time you spend watching TV, DVDs, and videos, playing handheld computer games, and using the computer.
5. Be active. One job you have as a kid - and it's a fun one - is that you get to figure out which activities you like best. Ask your parents to help you do your favorite activities regularly.
Join our "FIT KID" program and earn free gym time!
FUN HEALTHY SNACK IDEAS...
http://www.kidshealth.com/kid/recipes/index.html
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids/feature/famf19snack/famf19snack.html
Frozen Fruit Pop
Ingredients:
6 small, ripe bananas, peeled
12 wooden Popsicle sticks
1 cup pre-stirred raspberry yogurt
Chocolate sprinkles
Preparation:
Cut each banana in half, crosswise. Insert a wooden stick in each half. Pour yogurt into a small bowl. Holding a banana pop over the bowl, spoon yogurt onto fruit, covering completely. Allowing excess yogurt to drip back into the bowl. Shake chocolate sprinkles over yogurt. Place fruit pop on a tray lined with wax paper. Repeat for all pops. Freeze for 2 hours.
Servings: 12
Source: Fit Kids by Eileen Behan
Raspberry Crumble Bars
Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup rolled oats or crushed Weatabix cereal
1/4 cup butter or tub margarine, softened
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup raspberry jam
Preparation:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Use a spoon to combine all the ingredients, except jam, in a medium size bowl until the mixture starts to hold together like a crumbly cookie dough. Press about 2/3 of the mixture into a lightly oiled 8-by-8-inch baking pan, covering the entire bottom of the pan. Mix the jam with a spoon to make it easier to spread. Drop by spoonfuls onto the batter, distributing it as evenly as possible over the mixture.
Take the remaining flour mixture and spread it over the jam. It will not cover completely, but try to cover it evenly. Bake for 20 minutes until golden and the jam bubbles. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting. (The bars will fall apart easily until cooled completely.)
Yield: 9 bars
Source: Fit Kids by Eileen Behan
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com )
RESOURCES:
Fit Kids
Model: 0671037161
Author: Eileen Behan
(May, 2001)
Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
Riverside, NJ 08075
Phone: Private
Fax: 800-445-6991
Email: ssonline_feedback@simonsays.com
Website: www.simonsays.com
