Working Towards a Healthier You!

This activity is all about getting to know your body and where it stands in the spectrum of health. Childhood obesity is a huge, excuse the pun, problem in the United States these days and unless we are proactive in changing it, it is only going to get worse.

Read this article on childhood obesity and some of the contributing factors. Next, I want you to go to this website and enter your height and weight to find out your BMI (Body Mass Index). The BMI is a measure of how much body fat you have in ratio to all the other stuff in your body.

If you fall within the normal BMI range:

Create a list of at least 5 activities you participate in, on a regular basis. These examples can be organized sports, walking to school, bike riding, or whatever you do to stay active.

Create a list of at least 7 healthy food choices you make during the course of the day. These can be replacing potato chips with carrot sticks, picking whole grain bread instead of white, or any other good food decisions you and your family make.

If you fall within the overweight BMI range:

Create a list of at least 5 activities you have access to during the day that you can take advantage of. These could be trying out for a school sport, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or any other proactive choices to put more physical activity into your day.

Create a list of at least 7 healthy food choices you could make instead of the less nutritious foods. These could be choosing diet soda instead of regular, eating smaller portions, or other small changes that will benefit you in the long run.

If you fall within the obese BMI range:

Create a list of at least 5 activities you can take advantage of to increase your physical activity. These could be trying out for a school sport, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or any other proactive choices to get your body up and moving around. These should not be drastic life changes that are too hard to make, but rather small changes that will make a big difference.

Create a list of at least 7 healthy food choices you could make instead of the less nutritious foods. These could be choosing diet soda instead of regular, eating smaller portions, or other small changes that will benefit you in the long run.

Last thing, I promise. Check out this website the Department of Agriculture put together and investigate the new food pyramid. They made some changes to the pyramid that may help you guys understand what you should be consuming throughout the day a little easier. Use this information in creating your list of good eating habits.