Fun For Children

What’s Wrong With “Junk Food”? About Being Active! What You Can Do to Stay Healthy and Fit Good Books Cooking Fun Fun & Games

What’s Wrong With “Junk Food”?

Eating healthy foods and being active every day are important habits for keeping you well.  Healthy foods supply your body with what it needs to help you grow and fight off disease and infection.  Healthy foods include fruits and vegetables in all the colors of the rainbow, whole grains and beans, lean meats and low fat milk, cheese and yogurt.  If you eat a lot of “junk food” -like fatty or sugary foods and drinks- instead of healthier foods, your body may not get what it needs to help you grow healthy and strong. 

Being active keeps your heart and other muscles strong and fit.  Being fit means that your body works well and that you feel good.  Being active uses energy and balances the energy you get from eating food to help you keep a healthy body weight. Being active means doing things like going for a walk, jumping rope, roller skating, dancing, or playing any kind of sport like baseball, soccer, kickball or basketball.   It is recommended that everyone be active for at least 60 minutes most days to stay fit.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy and Fit

You may have noticed a lot of talk lately that a growing number of kids are overweight.  A person who is overweight has more body fat than is healthy.  Being overweight can make it harder to get around and can lead to health problems like heart disease and diabetes, even in kids.  Experts today feel that many people are eating too many unhealthy foods, and not being active enough to stay fit and at a healthy weight.  Every person’s body is different and there are many things that can affect how much a person weighs, so it is always best to check with your doctor to see if your weight is healthy for you.

1. Eat the recommended amount and type of foods that your body needs, and
2. Get plenty of physical activity every day.  Talk to your parents and caregivers about creating healthy habits that work for you.  To learn more click here

Healthy Habits for Everybody:

Make half your grains whole

Vary your veggies: eat more colors

Focus on fruits: eat a variety every day

Go lean with protein: choose low-fat and lean

Get your calcium-rich foods: go low-fat or fat-free

Fats and sugars – know your limits:

Limit solid fats as well as foods that contain them

Choose foods & beverages low in added sugars

Find your balance between food and fun: move more

Aim for at least 60 minutes every day or most days

Good Books

• Healthy Habit Stories
• Family Food Stories

Cooking Fun

Fun & Games