In addition to relieving stress, creating memories, and building bonds of friendship, just 10-15 minutes of laughter a day burns approximately 50 more calories a day. So grab a friend and enjoy a chuckle.
For mor funny videos visit Youtube or find jokes submitted by kids.
Six tips for parents to create a healthful environment
1. Stock up on good food
Fill your house with foods that are both delicious and nutritious (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, fish, lean protein, reduced-fat dairy products) and cut down on the junk food (such as cookies, cakes, sweetened cereals and sugary drinks) you bring home. For healthy snack ideas see suggestions from Family Fun, Mayoclinic experts, and the Family Corner.
2. Make sweets a treat
Save treats for special occasions. You don't have to give up sweets entirely, but go out for them instead of having them at home, he says.
3. Ditch the drive-through
Avoid fast food, he says. Ludwig did a study that showed overweight teens consume about 400 more calories on a day when they consume fast food compared with a day in which they don't.
4. Turn off the TV
Make physical activity the focus of the home instead of television. Don't allow TVs in the kitchen or bedrooms.
5. Equip for exercise
Give older children the basic tools to be active: jump ropes, balls, baseball gloves, Frisbees.
6. Shake it!
Encourage them to dance. Dancing is an excellent activity, he says. "Kids love to dance in a non-judgmental setting. When they are having fun, they are not thinking about it as exercise."
Do you think these tips are practical? Do you think they will make an impact?
Active Video Games
"With childhood obesity rates on the rise, "Active Life: Outdoor Challenge" is a great way to motivate children to be more physical. And it does it in a format that kids love: by playing a video game."
Nintendo's Wii and Wii Fit have been storming American homes and getting children and parents moving again. A new product "Active Life Outdoor Challenge" further increases the activity-levels. With the mat on the floor and the Wii remote in your hand, you will jump on a trampoline, slide down a slick pipe while avoiding obstacles, leap hurdles, sprint across a path of raised stones, speed skate through an obstacle course and much more. And all of these sweat-inducing activities happen from the comfort of your living room.
Children spend hours of time playing video games each day, and these types of sedentary activities are contributors to the rising rate of childhood obesity. New products such as Wii and Active Life incorporate physical activity into the video game.
However, why do children need a video game to do things they can do in reality? Why spend hundreds of dollars on a video game that creates a virtual scene where you can jump rope when you can go outside your back door and jump rope for virtually no cost at all?
What do you think are the positives and negatives of these active video games? And do you think they are a good idea to help children lose weight?
For more information read 'Active Life' challenges kids to get moving with Wii.
Nintendo's Wii and Wii Fit have been storming American homes and getting children and parents moving again. A new product "Active Life Outdoor Challenge" further increases the activity-levels. With the mat on the floor and the Wii remote in your hand, you will jump on a trampoline, slide down a slick pipe while avoiding obstacles, leap hurdles, sprint across a path of raised stones, speed skate through an obstacle course and much more. And all of these sweat-inducing activities happen from the comfort of your living room.
Children spend hours of time playing video games each day, and these types of sedentary activities are contributors to the rising rate of childhood obesity. New products such as Wii and Active Life incorporate physical activity into the video game.
However, why do children need a video game to do things they can do in reality? Why spend hundreds of dollars on a video game that creates a virtual scene where you can jump rope when you can go outside your back door and jump rope for virtually no cost at all?
What do you think are the positives and negatives of these active video games? And do you think they are a good idea to help children lose weight?
For more information read 'Active Life' challenges kids to get moving with Wii.
Parents or Food Industry?
To read the whole article go to www.sitnews.us. Here is a summary of his main points.
By Rob Holston
March 17, 2006
Friday
"Childhood obesity will almost double in the next four years! That is the chilling report recently published in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity. Their prediction is that by 2010, nearly 50% of all children in the U.S. will be overweight. Their study sates that "only significant changes in diet and lifestyle can change this prediction." The report goes on to state that the results of childhood obesity will be heart disease, diabetes, liver disorder & high cholesterol (for starters). In my opinion this is a Katrina sized national crisis in terms of medical costs, lost production and lost potential and we simply must avoid this catastrophe. Dr. Philip James of the IJPO describes the situation as "epidemic" and blames Western worlds food industry as the cause. This author primarily blames parents."
Percent of Obese (BMI > 30) in U.S. Adults
To watch the rate of obesity prevalence in the U.S. visit the CDC website.
"Parents do have a choice and as children become older, the choice becomes theirs. An ancient Proverb (22:6) says, "Train up a child in the way he is to go and when he is old he sill not depart from it"
Dr. James blames the food industry for creating what is collectively called "junk food." However the demand for the junk food is what gives the industry the financial incentive to produce it.
...The lesson to learn here is that, Fat, Salt and Sweets, the most desired of all tastes are not to be totally eliminated from the human diet. I believe these tastes were created for our pleasure...but in the hands of the giant food corporations of America, [childhood obesity ensues].
So what do you think? Who holds the greater responsibility for the growing rate of childhood obesity, the food industry, or parents? What are some ways we can teach and support mothers to encourage healthy eating habits?
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