March 28, 2024

Help your family become a fit family

Get moving and eat smart with the help of these simple and easy-to-follow programs

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Having a routine that incorporates fitness and healthy eating is important for performance in classes and sports, as well as better sleep. While it might sound daunting to get the family started, it’s actually easier than you might think, especially with the help of two easy fitness programs families can do on their own time.

5-2-1-0

The 5-2-1-0 program is a health-focused movement that encourages families and children to eat and play the healthy way.

Here’s how it works:

• 5 is for 5 or more fruits and veggies.

• 2 is for 2 hours or less of screen time.

• 1 is for 1 hour or more of physical activity.

• 0 is for 0 sugary drinks and more water.

Including a fruit or vegetable with every meal is a great place to start. For less screen time, come up with other activities you can do, such as walking the dog, biking to the park, or setting up a scavenger hunt around the house — all of which help you reach your 1 hour of physical activity goal. Then if you can swap out sugary beverages for water, you’ve done it. Try adding a splash of 100 percent juice or pieces of your favorite fruit to water for extra flavor. Practicing these four simple guidelines every day will help create life-long healthy habits for the whole family.

KidsFit 5 Week Challenge

The KidsFit 5 Week Challenge introduces a new exercise or healthy habit to try each day for five weeks. By signing into hy-veekidsfit.com, families can start learning new moves, stretches, and goals while tracking their progress. There’s no charge associated with the program, and no gym equipment is needed to perform the exercises. The associated KidsFit app lets users explore the wonderful world of nutrition and fitness in a fun and playful environment, complete with personal avatars for the whole family. Find it in the Google Play Store or iTunes.

No matter which healthy habits and programs you adopt, just remember that staying consistent with little things will accumulate to big changes.