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Media Release
April 5, 2004
Media Contact:
Rosann Doran
Public Information Officer
303.438.6308
HHS provides tips to promote physical activity, healthier eating in children
April 5-11, 2004 is National Public Health Week, and Broomfield Health and Human Services Department’s Public Health Division is sharing a list of activities for parents to assist children to become more physically active and to eat healthier.
This year’s Public Health Week theme is, “Steps to a Healthier Colorado--Eat Less, Move More, Live Longer.” It focuses on the importance of good nutrition and regular exercise for a healthier life of all our citizens.
Rene Lindeen, Broomfield Public Health Nutritionist, said, “Kids today spend more time than ever playing video games, watching television and eating junk food. The residual from being less active and eating less healthy food is that more children are becoming overweight at an earlier age. Childhood obesity is now regarded as an epidemic in the U.S.”
“There are ways to counteract childhood obesity. Parents can provide healthier food choices and find ways to fit physical activity into their children’s daily schedules,” she added.
HHS offers the following nutrition and activity tips for parents and children:
Eat Properly
- Eat breakfast every morning and give metabolism a boost.
- Limit portion sizes of foods high in calories, such as cookies, cakes, other sweets, french fries, fats, oils and spreads.
- Eat fruit or vegetables at every meal or as a snack.
- Drink skim milk instead of 1 or 2 percent or whole milk.
- Try to decrease the total intake of food by 100 calories a day by. Skip snack time sodas; replace potato chips with fruit; and don’t use butter.
- Eat proper portion sizes at home.
- When eating out, choose small portion sizes, share an entrée with a friend or take part of the food home.
- Eat slowly and pay attention to the body’s signs of fullness.
Move More
- Cut down on sitting, watching television, and working or playing at the computer. Parents should place a limit on the time children spend on computers and watching television.
- Walk or bicycle to and from school.
- Walk the dog.
- Find an activity of interest. The activity could include a variety of things, including basketball, rollerblading, dancing or soccer. Whatever the activity, play for 30 minutes at least three times a week.
- Walk around the house or up and down the stairs during television commercials or when talking on the telephone.
- Take a walk and pick up litter in the neighborhood—make it a family affair.
- Take a family adventure – see the sights of your community. Try hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Explore the zoo and outdoor tourist attractions.
- Plan a family fitness vacation
- Give a gift that encourages physical activity such as a bicycle, a snowboard, ice skates or in-line skates. Select toys that make kids move.
- Walk to a friend’s house instead of calling or emailing them.
- Start a walking club with friends, family members or neighbors, and walk at least three times a week for 30 minutes.
- Use a pedometer and encourage friends to use one, then track how many steps are taken a day. Have a competition on who can walk the most steps each week.
Fitting physical activity into the day can be simple and doesn’t require a strict exercise regimen, just creativity and planning. Making small changes can make a difference in the physical health of children over time. For example, when shopping with your children at the mall, simply getting into the habit of always taking the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator is a much healthier alternative.”
For more information about Public Health Week or physical activity and nutrition, call the Broomfield Health and Human Services, Health Promotions Unit at 720.887.2220.