5 Health Tips to Share with Your Kids from North Carolina Lifestyle Blogger Adventures of Frugal Mom

It’s germ season and if you have small children in the house, it always seems like sickness is bound to happen at some point or another. But there are things you and your kids can do to stay healthy and help stop the spread of germs. If you model these tips for your kids, they’ll be happy to join in! Share with them the importance of the healthy habits below and watch together as they help make a difference!

Wash your hands often

This is an oldie, but a goodie. Washing your hands often and well is one of the most effective ways to avoid spreading germs to yourself or others. Have your kids wash their hands when coming inside, before eating, and even before bed. Proper hand washing includes lots of warm water, soap, and at least 20 seconds of scrubbing (about the length of the “Happy Birthday” song). Don’t forget to wash your own hands often as well to model this habit for your little ones.

Eat lots of fresh foods, mostly veggies

Eat lots of fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Think colorful when it comes to dishing up a plate or preparing a meal—the more veggies you include, the more colorful the spread! When it comes to snacking, try keeping a bowl of fruit on the counter for easy access for all. Or keep cut up celery or baby carrots at eye level in the fridge, making it easy for your kids to grab a healthy snack! The vitamins veggies and other fresh foods provide will help you and your family stay healthy all year long.

Take a probiotic

Probiotics have been proven to fight bad bacteria with good bacteria. So while eating lots of veggies and fresh foods lay a great foundation for getting adequate nutrients, adding a daily probiotic to your kids’ diet can significantly improve their digestion and gut health. Try introducing a certified, sugar-free variety like Doctor MKs Natural Kids Probiotic Chews, which is free of all the bad stuff but tastes like candy so kids love them. (As always though, it’s a good idea to check with your family doctor before adding any additional supplements into your children’s diets.)

Avoid junk food

Junk food is tempting at all ages, but adds no nutritional value to your family’s diet. Avoid keeping junk foods in the house and your kids will learn to reach for healthy alternatives instead. Craving a crunchy snack? Try thin-sliced cucumber or celery instead of chips. Craving something sweet? Dried cranberries, sliced pears, or orange slices offer a natural sweetness that will satisfy any sweet-tooth. Craving something salty? Try eating a handful of lightly salted nuts. Your family will thank you in the long run!

Drink water instead of sugary drinks

Water is often taken for granted when it comes to health, but our bodies rely on water to function properly and to flush out or immune system. In addition, according to this dentist in Vienna VA, water is beneficial to our dental health as it helps neutralize the acid in our mouth.But even though we know it’s good for us, it’s hard to drink the recommended 8 glasses of a day, right? Still it’s important to share with our children the benefits of drinking water and to encourage them to drink water when they’re thirsty instead of a sugary soda or juice. To make drinking water more appealing for your kids, try adding berries or even cinnamon and apple slices to a pitcher or bottle in the fridge. They’ll likely be more willing to reach for a chilled, colorful bottle—and may even look forward to different fruit or citrus combinations you come up with together!