Healthy Habits to Build With Your Kids

Nowadays it can seem harder than ever to peel our kids away from the electronic devices to engage with healthier forms of connection and learning. But, healthy habits can be built into a family’s routine with small, practical steps that make a big impact on your children’s mental, physical, and emotional health. Check out some of the ways we incorporate healthy habits into our household routine with our kiddos!

Make Food Fun & Collaborative

Grab some Medjool dates, grapes, carrots, or snap peas to help emphasize those addition and subtraction math problems! Food can be used in a creative way when doing simple tasks every day to help encourage your child that fruits and veggies make things FUN.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, make a game out of the fresh produce aisle! Ask your child to pick something that is a certain color to try together with your next meal and then pick what that special meal is based on the item they choose. Giving your kids the opportunity to experiment with new fruits and vegetables and then be a part of the preparation of that meal helps them not only learn important skills for life, but fuels their natural curiosity. 

*If you have an ultra-picky eater, that’s okay. There is no shame if you only rotate through a few staple fruits and vegetables in your home. The key is to keep asking, encouraging, and incorporating your child in the meal-prep process. 

Check out more from registered dietitian Jamie Lee McIntyre on our Kid Nutrition page to learn more about feeding growing healthy bodies.

We Like to Move It, Move It

Kids are full of energy, so spending time outdoors to run and play with friends is ideal. Our family loves going hiking, playing outside with the dog, and playing sports like soccer and swimming. On dreary rainy days when your kids can’t spend time outdoors, keeping them active and entertained can be a bit more of a challenge. Engaging with them in pillow fights in their rooms or dance parties can be fun outlets. Blast some of their favorite songs and march around the house, lifting heart rates and spirits!

Here are some of our family’s favorite on-the-go snacks to fuel our movement:

• Mini Medjools
• Toasted Coconut Date Breakfast Bars
• Energy Drops

Prioritize Mental & Emotional Health

One aspect of our children’s health that can sometimes be missed is their mental and emotional wellbeing. As the little ones in our lives learn to regulate their emotions, we can engage in activities together that boost their spirits. Playing games, storytelling and showing interest in their hobbies will help them feel seen and cared for by the adults in their lives.

Here are some practical things to consider in regards to your child’s mental health:

• Limiting screen time
• Catering to love languages by giving words of affirmation and plenty of hugs
• Getting some sun and soaking up vitamin D to boost mental health
• Joining in hands-on creative tasks for shoulder-to-shoulder time
• Cultivating a warm and comforting atmosphere
• Gathering around the table for meals for face-to-face interaction

Every child is different, but they all have the same need to feel loved and valued. Whether you have a toddler or teen in your life, we hope that these tips have been helpful and inspiring. Take a look at our kid resource here to learn more about their nutrition.

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Shayna Telesmanic is the International Sales Manager at Natural Delights. She lives with her husband, two daughters and toy poodle in California’s Central Valley. She has spent the last decade teaching children and families how to fall in love with cooking healthy meals, and now travels the globe while working in the fresh produce industry.

David Baxter is the Director of Marketing at Natural Delights. He and his wife live in Michigan with their two daughters and dog, Barley. Aside from enjoying a round of golf and watching sports on the weekend, David loves to cook with his wife who is always finding the best recipe hacks and DIY projects.