​3 Tips to Help Your Kids Make Healthy Choices (Without Breaking the Bank)

Submitted by Amanda Henderson with Safe Children

You can lay the foundation for healthy habits that last a lifetime

If your children constantly beg for cookies or sugary fruit juices, it can be hard to figure out how to get them on a path to a healthier lifestyle. It all begins with you. The example you set about nutrition and exercise can help them grow into healthy adults, and the great news is that keeping your kids healthy doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are three ways that you can help your kids make healthy choices while sticking to a budget.

1. Be a Role Model
   As a parent, you lead by example, especially when it comes to a healthy diet. Whether your kids admit it or not, they're watching you. While your children are growing up, it’s very important for them to consume healthy foods that have the nutrients they need to develop properly. So, make sure you are eating healthy foods as well. Instead of cutting out certain foods, try to focus on an overall healthy diet. Limit processed foods like packaged crackers and chips, as well as sugary drinks like soda. Try to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets by adding pineapple chunks and strawberries to their school lunches or mashed-up carrots to sweet potato.
   
   It’s also important to be a role model for everyday healthy habits that range from washing your hands to brushing your teeth. Most parents know that regular hand washing helps prevent the spread of illness, but did you know that your oral health can affect everything from your heart health to your mental well-being? Help children connect healthy-eating habits to these two routine tasks so they stick with them. For example, tell them how much more they’ll savor every bite of their carrot sticks if they’re eating them with clean hands and that brushing their pearlies twice a day ensures there are no old, yucky food bits standing in the way of every delicious bite!
   
   
2. Help Them Develop an Exercise Routine
   Sometimes it can be hard to get your child outside for exercise. Sometimes it seems like video games and computers have taken the place of playgrounds and other outdoor activities. Try to make exercise fun for the entire family. If you’re on a tight budget, you can go to a local park and throw a Frisbee around with your children or take the bikes out of the garage and go for a ride. If you don’t have time for these kinds of activities yourself, and you're able to set some money aside, sign them up for an after-school sport or another physical activity. Whether they’re interested in soccer, baseball, tennis, flag football, or gymnastics, an after-school sport will help them get the regular exercise they need to lead a healthy life. It will also help them make new friends and get them used to regularly working out, which is a great habit to learn early on.
   
   
3. Learn How to Shop on a Budget
   When it comes to shopping on a family budget, it can become challenging to stick to healthy habits. It might be tempting to simply grab a frozen dinner, but there are some better ways to eat budget-friendly healthy meals. Many food bloggers have done the hard work to find ways to do this, so leverage the healthy and inexpensive recipes they post online. There are even ways to exercise in the latest workout attire, by taking advantage of online savings opportunities when you shop (like using Adidas promo codes).

 
It doesn’t take a lot of work to establish healthy habits, and practice always helps them stick. By being a role model for your children and keeping communication open about everything from how much something costs to why it’s good for you, you can lay the foundation for establishing healthy habits that last a lifetime. 

This story was submitted by Amanda Henderson with Safe Children