Making healthy lifestyle choices can be difficult when there are lots of confusing and conflicting messages available. We have come up with 7 key messages to help families in Aberdeen make healthier lifestyle choices. The messages cover a wide range of information from physical activity, sugar, fruit and vegetables and social eating. This webpage shares additional healthy eating and physical activity advice alongside each key message.
Keeping Children Moving
Children aged 5 to 18 years should aim to do 60 minutes of activity each day to keep their bodies fit and healthy. This also allows them to socialise with others.
Time spent watching TV or playing video games should be limited!
For ideas to keep your children active, click below -
Keeping Children under 5 Moving
Children aged under 5 years should aim to do 180 minutes of exercise each day! From as young as one, babies should be encouraged to be physically active by reaching, grasping, pulling and pushing!
For age appropriate activities, click below -
Being Sugar Smart
It's almost impossible to avoid all added sugar and some sugar in a child’s diet is normal. But, it’s important to know how much is too much. Although there is no guideline limit for children under 4, they should limit added sugar as much as possible!
For more information on how to reduce your child's added sugar intake, click below -
Staying Hydrated
Everyone should aim to drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid each day to keep our bodies fit, healthy and hydrated! Choosing healthy drinks is just as important as choosing healthy foods to have a balanced diet!
Children under 5 should aim to drink plenty of water but will need smaller servings!
Eating 5-A-Day
Fruit and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals that will help children stay as healthy as possible. Children should be encouraged to ‘Eat the Rainbow’ everyday by eating a variety of fruit and vegetables from different colours of the rainbow!
Remember: Children’s hands are smaller than adult’s so their portion size will be too!
Reading Food Labels
Knowing how to understand food labels will help you make the healthiest food choices possible. Go for more greens, some ambers and cut down on reds!
Eating Together
Having a healthy lifestyle isn’t always about what you are eating and how much exercise you are doing. Sitting down and eating meals together as a family encourages lifelong positive eating behaviours, giving children an opportunity to explore new healthy foods!
It also has social benefits, encouraging children to get involved with cooking, cleaning up and giving them the opportunity to speak with their family!
Energy Balance
Think about your car. If you don’t fuel your car, you won’t be able to go anywhere. Your body is the same! We use energy all of the time, from blinking to breathing to exercising. If we don’t fuel our bodies with healthy nutritious foods, we won’t have enough energy to get us through the day.
Use the #healthychoiceshealthychild key messages along with the Eatwell Guide to help you get a balance of healthier and more sustainable food.
Activity Pack - Healthy Choices.pdfUse our activity pack for challenge and activity ideas to help your family make healthier choices.
Recipes
Week 1 - Lentil Soup.docxWeek 2 - Spaghetti Bolognese.docxWeek 3 - Singapore Noodles.docxWeek 4 - Fish Pie.docxWeek 5 - Chicken Korma.docxWeek 6 - Lentil Burger.docx