HOW TO EAT HEALTHY: 3 TIPS FOR TEACHING KIDS TO CUT DOWN ON SUGAR

Make some healthy snacks for kids like I do.  Young's Produce Market.  

THIS WEEK I had the pleasure of speaking with a young boy and his dad at the end of their shopping visit to the eclectic Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store in Vero Beach, Florida.  The boy was 11 or 12 years old and appeared to be overweight.  I asked him what he was doing to stay active this summer.  He told me he was attending camp at The Skate Factory, a place my own son attended regularly when he was on the hockey team there. 

We talked about the daily exercise he was getting at The Skate Factory and how important exercise is for keeping kids healthy.  His dad silently nodded in agreement with me (out of his son�s line of vision, of course). 

I said to the boy, �You know it's important to cut down on the number of sodas you drink, right?�  I could tell by his answer that he probably drinks too much soda, as further evidenced by his dad's smile and comment:  �Yes, we�ve been reading the educational messages you have in your store.� 

�When you�re skating at summer camp, drink plenty of water!�  (The goal for children is at 5 to 8 cups of water every day.)   �Take some fresh fruit or veggies with you for a healthy snack instead of the juice boxes.�   I ended our quick educational session by asking the boy if he could help me by teaching other kids what he had just learned.  He smiled and said yes.  His dad seemed appreciative for having someone talk with his son in a positive way about how to avoid high sugar foods.  I got the clear message from this concerned dad that he was concerned about his son�s weight.   �Thank you for what you are doing here. We�ll be back!�

Here at 3 tips to help your kids eat less sugar:

1. Drink less soda, including diet soda. 
2. Drink 5-8 cups of water a day (adults need at least 8 cups a day).
3. Eat fruit or veggies instead of drinking fruit juice or fruit drinks. 

How will you help your kids eat and drink less sugar and get to a healthier weight?

Sincerely,

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to halting, reversing, and preventing childhood obesity, one child and one garden at a time. 

To learn more about our education projects and how you can help, go to www.growinghealthykids.me. 

You're Invited to The Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store Grand Opening Tomorrow in Vero Beach

Paradise Greetings,

If we are going to halt and reverse childhood obesity, we have work to do. This country has huge educational unmet needs for clear and concise information about the "why" getting to a healthier weight is a big deal for kids - and families - who are not at healthy weight and the "how" to do it in simple steps. Growing Healthy Kids is creating real solutions to meet these needs, especially for families that say they can't afford to eat healthy.

So, we are ramping up our work. We have taken a leap of faith to raise money for our various educational projects. We have opened our first "store within a store". Tomorrow is the Grand Opening of The Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store - educational products, gifts, and more.

The Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store has just opened in partnership with the beautiful Born Again Consignments store in its new location at 3400 43rd Avenue, Suites 7 and 8, Vero Beach, Florida (about a mile north of SR 60, at the west end of the Vero Beach Airport). The Grand Opening is 4-7 PM tomorrow, Thursday, October 28.

The store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 AM-5 PM. The Growing Healthy Kids Variety Store is accepting tax-deductible donations of new and gently used furniture, garden and wall art. Mondays and Thursday are our preferred drop-off days.

A special thank you to Kim George of http://www.irculture.com/ for your sponsorship and support of our new variety store!!

I look forward to meeting you. Please stop by tomorrow if you're in the neighborhood!

Growing Healthy Kids - improving the health - and lives - of America's children, one garden and one child at a time.

To your perfect health.

Nancy Heinrich

Founder, Growing Healthy Kids

PS - check out the beautiful glass by Etched Heart artist Kryse Manson!! She and I are "toasting" with a pair of her beautiful champagne flutes.