By GINA CARMICHAEL
RN, LVMS and LVHS
School Nurse

I have good news—and bad news. It all depends on how you look at it.
Parents are the single biggest factor involved with how healthy a child eats and how physically active they are.
In a world that sometimes feels like we have no control at all, this is one place a parent can really shine. It can start as simply as eating one meal a day together as a family, a meal that hasn’t been picked up at the drive-thru or been delivered to your home. Those are all fun treats for once in a while, but when they take the place of a meal made at home, families lose out.
When families cook together, it gets even better. One fun idea is that everyone has to prepare one meal a week for the entire family. Breakfast is the perfect place to start little ones in the kitchen.
Didn’t grow up with Julia Child in your house? There are dozens of cooking channels to learn from and as many cooking websites on the Internet as there are bubbles in a soda. Have fun watching together.
Once they’ve decided on their meal, go shopping together and compare the labels before foods go into the cart. Help them find the fat, sugar and salt on the label. Then search for the choice with the healthiest list. Everyone loves a treasure hunt.
Go through the produce section and vow to try out one new thing every week. Start a chart on the refrigerator to see how many fruits and veggies each person eats every day. Contests make it fun.
The more fruits and veggies we eat, the better bodies we build. And if you’re raising an athlete, that becomes even more important. When muscles work hard, the smart athletes rebuild them with healthy carbohydrates, fruits, veggies and lean proteins.
Planning ahead when you’re shopping means you’ll have the bananas, granola bars or apples ready to grab when you get home.
And just like eating healthy takes a parent willing to set the example, raising a physically active child starts at home too. When they’re little, physical toys and games like tricycles and bikes, skate boards, tennis rackets, baseball gloves, volleyball nets all get kids moving.
Lago Vista may be small but we have lots of options for exercise. We have playgrounds, swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts, a running track, soccer, little league, Little Dribblers, T-ball, taekwondo, Scouting and dance classes. In the summer, the school runs sports camps you can find on their district website at www.lagovista.txed.net. Group sports are great but don’t forget to look for things kids can do on their own.
Try ping-pong or tennis against the garage door. A basketball hoop is as much fun for one as it is for a group. A tire swing works great for practicing your fast ball or perfecting your touchdown pass.
For older kids, dog walking and lawn mowing are great for building responsibility as well as muscles. They love their electronics so use it to their advantage. There are great i-phone-type apps that help track an exercise routine. Try a Wii Fit system if they love computer games.
Getting kids to exercise more is just like getting them to eat better. If you join in, it changes everything. Shop together, cook and eat your meals together, then go outside and walk the dog together. Shoot some hoops together, go bowling together.
“Together” is the key word. The connection you build will be priceless and the health lessons you’ll learn will last a lifetime.