A new program which aims to encourage healthy eating and active living amongst families is coming to the West Shore.
The family healthy living program is a 10-week pilot program for parents, children between the ages of eight and 12 who are above a healthy weight, siblings and caregivers to learn how to eat healthy, live an active lifestyle, and kick unhealthy habits to the curb.
B次元官网网址淥ne-third of children and youth are on an unhealthy weight trajectory. This is significant because it tends to track into adulthood B次元官网网址� Habits usually donB次元官网网址檛 change, they tend to worsen as people get older,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Tom Warshawski, pediatrician and chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation, a Vancouver-based charity that is putting on the program.
B次元官网网址淯nhealthy weights are associated with early death, chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, hypertension and stroke. There are so many reasons to embrace healthy eating and active living.B次元官网网址�
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The free program includes a one-and-a-half hour session led by staff at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre once a week, as well a bit of online homework,
It will also focus on five key principals related to healthy eating, including avoiding sugary drinks and products with added sugar, eating as many vegetables as you can whenever you can, avoiding highly processed grains such as chips, granola bars and crackers, and cooking and eating at home.
Not only will the program teach parents and children about those principals, but it will also teach them how to implement them on a daily basis.
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B次元官网网址淲e know that family meals tend to be healthier, theyB次元官网网址檙e associated with a healthier weight gain trajectory, but the mental health benefits are huge for the kids,B次元官网网址� Warshawski said.
B次元官网网址淲e have an epidemic of anxiety amongst kids. WeB次元官网网址檙e not spending enough time with our children and itB次元官网网址檚 easy to get seduced by having to run here and do that, but family meals trump everything in terms of physical health and mental health.B次元官网网址�
The program is expected to launch in Colwood on Sept. 25, and is one of 10 that will be taking place across the province. Other municipalities include Prince George, Kelowna, Chilliwack, Surrey, Burnaby, Vancouver, Campbell River and North Cowichan. If all goes well, there are plans to potentially expand the program in the future.
To register for the family healthy living program visit .
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