Being Fit
Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity (exercise), and has a healthy weight. If you're fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends.
Eat a Variety of Foods
You may have a favorite food, but the best choice is to eat a variety. If you eat different foods, you get the nutrients your body needs. Some foods, such as green veggies, are more pleasing the older you get. Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day — two fruits and three vegetables.
Drink Water & Milk
When you're really thirsty, cold water is the best thirst-quencher . Kids need calcium to build strong bones, and milk is a great source of this mineral. How much do kids need? If you are younger than 9 years old, drink 2 cups of milk a day, or its equivalent. If you're older than 9 years old, aim for 3 cups of milk per day, or its equivalent. You can mix it up by having milk and some other calcium-rich dairy foods.
Listen to Your Body
What does it feel like to be full? When you're eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full. Sometimes, people eat too much because they don't notice when they need to stop eating. Eating too much can make you feel uncomfortable and, over a period of time, can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
Limit Screen Time
What's screen time? It's the amount of time you spend watching TV or DVDs, playing video games , and using a smart phone, tablet, or computer. The more time you spend on these sitting-down activities, the less time available for active activities, like basketball, bike riding, and swimming. Try to spend no more than 2 hours a day on screen time, not counting computer use related to school and educational activities.
Be Active
One job you have as a kid — and it's a fun one — is that you get to figure out which activities you like best. Not everyone loves baseball or soccer. Maybe your passion is karate, or kickball, or dancing. Ask your parents to help you do your favorite activities regularly. Find ways to be active every day.
