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Healthy Snacks & Activity Plans

The mode of living that people who reside in urban areas are accustomed to is far different from the living conditions of humans for much of the species' history. Instead of foraging for food, it is packaged and waiting in a freezer. The physical activity every person needs to exert every day is dramatically less than any other point in human history. One side effect is childhood obesity. Many plans for combating this problem focus on healthy snacks and activities.

  1. Childhood Obesity

    • Childhood obesity is a serious problem confronting families and schools. In addition to the social and emotional problems obese children must contend with, being obese at a young age puts them on an accelerated path toward serious health problems that will last the rest of their lives. These include type II diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

    Healthy Snacks

    • Many plans for combating childhood obesity focus on improving the snacking habits of children. If children are eating sugary and nutrient-poor food, then becoming obese is much more likely than if the children ate fruits or vegetables as snacks. While many politicians and policymakers want to improve the quality of school cafeteria food, parents can take matters into their own hands by packing healthy food, such as baby carrot sticks or apple slices, in their kids' lunches or giving kids these snacks in addition to lunch money.

    Snacking at Home

    • One of the practical appeals of unhealthy snack foods is that it is ready to eat and requires little preparation time or effort. The same cannot always be said of healthy food and snacks. Consequently, one way to promote healthy snacking is to provide kids with healthy snacks at home that are as easy to prepare as junk food. Some ideas for this can include low-fat dressing for dipping cut vegetables, low-fat yogurt, granola, rice cakes with peanut butter and whole-wheat pretzels.

    Parental Example

    • While many parents lead busy lives to support their children, one of the best ways parents can help their children develop healthy behaviors that will last a lifetime is to set a healthy example. This includes keeping a regular fitness routine and incorporating their kids into it. This can include weekend activities such as one-on-one basketball games, family touch football games, and even noncompetitive activities such as hikes and bicycle rides.

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