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{parenting} Keeping Kids Healthy During Summer Break

Now that it’s Summertime, the kids are lounging around the house and playing with the neighborhood kids. And if they’re anything like mine, they will pummel through a refrigerator full of food in one weekend!

At school the kids have scheduled times to eat. (What they’re eating is a different blog post!) They eat at the same times every single day and the food is portioned. At home, they are free to grab food and snacks all day long.

The key is to keep the children eating healthfully, and having good food at their reach more than junk foods and sweets.

Here are some of my ideas of snacks and food items to stock in the house over the summer (and the rest of the year) to keep our kids eating healthy. Let me know you tricks and ideas that you do in your home!

  • WATER, WATER, WATER! – Always keeping re-usable sports bottles filled with water around the house will help to keep the kids (and adults) hydrated with good ol’ H20.
  • Pre-Portion Snacks – We all love to shop in bulk to save money. To help keep the family eating in healthy portions, especially when eating foods like chips, etc, try to pre-portion snacks in zip bags.
  • Less Junk Food, More Real Food – When shopping for groceries, stock up on real foods like fresh fruits, cheeses, nuts, whole grains, just to name a few. It’s true what they say, if it’s all that’s around, they are bound to eat it. And who doesn’t love a big bowl of juicy strawberries during the summer?? :)
  • Stay Active - Not a food idea, but keeping the kids more at play with their bodies moving and less on the couch in front of the TV, or tablet and cell phone will help them maintain some form of exercise.
  • Keep it the Norm – Get in the habit of having fresh and real food in the fridge and pantry and it’ll become a way of life. My kids cannot go a week without fresh fruit smoothies, and chomping on grapes, crackers and cheese as a snack. Chips and other snacks are an occasional treat, so it’s not like they’re deprived! But, they enjoy real food just as much!

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