Healthy habits are essential for children's well-being. However, a recent report reveals that a lot of adolescents are consuming unhealthy foods and are failing to meet their nutritional requirements.
- Adolescent obesity in the Philippines has tripled in the last 15 years
- Globally, 42% of adolescents drink soda daily
- 46% of adolescents eat fast food weekly
The good news is that us parents can help our children build good habits that will last them a lifetime. Here are some tips for instilling healthy habits in children:
- Move together. Some children (and adults) see exercise as a chore. To make physical movement a fun thing instead of a bore, re-frame exercise as “moving together”. Dance, ride a bike, take walks, or do gardening together. Find out what your kids like and incorporate it into your schedule.
- Food as fuel. A lot of people don’t have a good relationship with food – either they overindulge or restrict too much. Instead, find that 80/20 balance of eating food that fuels your body and not-so-healthy food that feeds your soul. When parents lead by this example, kids usually follow.
Eating healthy and working out are long-term habits. Don't stress if you and your children can't always eat non-processed food or work out every day. Life is about balance, so focus on making healthy choices most of the time. The important thing is to help your children build a good relationship with food and exercise.
In case you want to kick things up a notch, there’s AIA’s Active Health Invest Plus. This plan helps you look forward to a happier, fuller life. You’ll also get:
- Healthcare and insurance benefits
- Life insurance coverage
- Rewards for living healthy and leading by example
Remember, building healthy habits is a lifelong journey. Just keep moving forward and you will eventually reach your family’s health and wellness goals.
