Make the First Move Building Exercise Habits With Your Kids
Get creative. You want to have fun while moving around, so it helps to incorporate games. Freeze tag, water balloon fights, and red rover remain classics, and pretending the floor is lava is perfect for a rainy day. But if you’ve got a good imagination, you can get even more outside the box. Plenty of families make up games and create lasting memories. Ask your kids for ideas and go with or expand on their suggestions. The only thing better than getting your exercise is feeling like a kid again. Make it an outing. Eventually, your kids will get too old for red light, green light. Tweens and teens will want something more grown-up, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay active as a family. Consider instituting a nightly after-dinner walk, taking a weekly bike ride through the park, or training for a marathon together. Finding new places in the area to explore on foot is another great way to get out of the house and move. Older kids might also like learning something new, like tennis or racquetball. Sign up for classes together and play in teams to bond while you sweat.
Most of us should exercise more than we do, and our kids often face the same dilemma. Exercise With Your Child Week on Aug. 7–13 encourages a dual solution of building healthy habits together as a family, but many families don’t know how to get started. Your kids probably have little interest in the treadmill or weightlifting (just like many adults), so we’ve compiled some more enjoyable ways everyone can get their heart rate pumping. Hold a dance party. Even the most steadfast couch potatoes can often be convinced to get up and dance to their favorite music. Why? It’s fun! That’s the goal. You want your children to associate movement with joy instead of thinking of it as another chore. So, clear the living room, crank up the tunes, and start moving! Rotate between your family members’ favorite songs so everyone gets their chance for fun. And if you really can’t agree, consider a silent dance party where everyone wears headphones with their own music but still dances together.
This week is a great catalyst to jump-start your family’s activity, but you should also work on making a much longer commitment. Lifelong habits lead to lifelong health for both you and your little ones.
Inspired by Delish.com Tasty Bruschetta Chicken
Fresh tomatoes and basil abound in August, practically begging to become bruschetta! This recipe turns that appetizer into a main dish.
Ingredients
•
4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness
• • • • • •
3 tomatoes, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped Salt and pepper, to taste 4 slices mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese, grated
• • • •
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice, divided
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Directions
1.
Add chicken to a large resealable bag.
2. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Pour over chicken and seal. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 3. Turn a grill to medium-high heat and add the chicken. Discard the marinade. Grill chicken 5–7 minutes per side or until fully cooked. 4. Combine the remaining lemon juice, tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Add salt and pepper, to taste. 5. Before taking the chicken off the grill, top each breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook 2–3 minutes, then serve topped with the tomato mixture and grated Parmesan cheese.
Ruby wants to be a doctor
561-810-0170 • 3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator