Many of us are confused on what ideal health is and how we can be truly healthy. So today, I am going to share 7 tips for kids to be healthy and strong! 

1. You will change

As a developing child, you may gain more weight. There is no need to worry about this. Just keep a balanced diet and the weight will eventually even out.

2. There are no perfect bodies

Not everything you see on TV, magazines, and other media is neccesarily true. Models and actors are touched up and photo-shopped to look slimmer and “prettier.” The touched up images may look decieving, but they’re not true.

3. Stay active!

Exercising is important to stay at a healthy weight and to keep your body working. A great way to start your day is by getting a boost of energy to keep you strong. I like doing yoga and cycling because they are both very relaxing.

4. How you eat is also important

How you eat is as important as what you eat because of the way your body procceses the food. So, that being said, here are 3 tips on how you can eat:

• Don’t Eat While You’re Distracted

If you eat while you are doing something else, like watching a movie, your brain will wonder whether you ate enough.

• Eat Slowly                                          

When you eat too fast, your brain will confused with whether or not you’re still hungry.

• Make Time For Sit-Down Meals              

Eating either laying down or standing up will make it difficult to digest, so as busy as you may be, squeeze sit-down meals into your day

 5. What you drink matters, too      

 It’s very important to drink plenty of water each day. Your body is basically made up out of water, so it needs to be moist! Since I’m vegan, I drink almond milk for protein, too. Beware of sugar-filled juices, energy drinks, and sodas. They give you a bit of energy, but leave you feeling tired.

6. Get a Good Amount of Sleep

Most doctors recommend 7/8 hours of sleep. Sleep is very important. While resting, you release hormones that help you grow. Lack of sleep produces stress, anxiety, lack of concentration, and it weakens the immune system, which causes more chance of illnesses. If you’re having trouble sleeping, I recommend keeping your room dark and quiet, and doing something relaxing like reading a book or taking a bath.

7.  Eat a Rainbow Of Nutrients

You need a rainbow of foods each day, so you can keep a balanced and healthy plate. These are red for apples and cherries, orange for carrots and peaches, yellow like squash and bananas,  green for broccoli and brussels sprouts, blue like blueberries, and violet for eggplant and grapes. This is Roy G. Bv.

Pyramid Basics 

This is the vegan food pyramid. You may eat meat, while I choose not to. There are many alternatives to eating meat and dairy.

As you can see, we need the most of vegetables and fruit because of the many vitamins and nutrients contained inside. On the other hand, we need less fats because they aren’t as nutrient-packed, but a small amount is good, about 5 teaspoons. If you eat too many fats, it will be un-healthy and will make you drowsy and less active.

For dairy alternatives, we need three cups a day. Some options are:

• Almond milk or Soy milk
•  Vegan butter
• Vegan cheese
• Vegan yogurt
• Tofu

For beans and alternatives for meat, you need 4 1/2 ounces a day. Some vegan options are:

• Vegan ground meat
• Vegan chicken
• Vegan sausage
• Red and black beans
• Garbanzos
• Lentils
• Tofu

For grains, such as bread or cereal, 6 ounces is plenty because grains make you gain a lot of weight in no time.

You can make your own food pyramid and share it with your family to start eating in a more healthy way.  

How do you stay healthy and strong?

[elyssa]