1. Always bring healthy snacks everywhere you go.
Carrots & hummus
Cut up apples
Blueberries
String Cheese
Yogurt (plain, without added or artificial colors) & add whole fruit.
Meat sticks without nitrates or sugar added
Kale chips
Hard Boiled Eggs
2. Avoid “sugar-free”, “low-cal”, “light” or diet products. As they contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (Nutra-sweet, Equal).
Like MSG, aspartame is an excitotoxin, which alters brain chemistry by reducing levels of serotonin, the feel good hormone. Aspartame has been linked to blindness, seizures, migraines, to name a few.
Instead choose products that do not have added sugar. If adding a sweetener to a food choose: honey, molasses, stevia, dates, maple syrup, or an organic cane sugar.
3. Keep them on a good sleep schedule. Children need 8-12 hours of sleep each night depending on age.
Children thrive on a good night’s sleep. They will be in a much better mood when they get the right amount of sleep they need.
4. Get your child a gym membership. That’s right. For as little as $10-20 per month your child can go to a child friendly gym like the YMCA to swim & play. A well exercised kid is a happy and healthier kid.
5. Practice gratitude. Before bed, encourage your child to tell you 3 things they are grateful for. Gratitude helps boost the immune system and encourages a positive attitude.
6. Avoid artificial ingredients and dyes. For holidays or birthdays try substitutes like YumEarth & Annie’s for goody bags or snacks. Instead of candy, have fruit or dried fruit available. Make it fun! Put the fruit on toothpicks to make fruit kabobs. Be a good example and walk the talk, kids are always watching what we do!
