Active Lifestyle Families Walk

Take Family Walks For Quality Time and Active Lifestyles

An active family lifestyle can keep kids and adults healthy while spending quality time together. Families do not have to spend hundreds of dollars a month on a gym membership in order to stay active. In fact, there are a lot of activities a family can do together that includes even the youngest member of the family. Walking is often overlooked as an actual form of healthy exercise.

Families can walk together and still enjoy pleasant conversation. Making walking a habit that your family enjoys will give your kids a long and healthy life!

Healthy Kids Walk

One activity that is easy on aging joints and fun for the kids is walking through a local park. Keep the whole family healthy with family walks. If the park is within a mile or so from the home, walk to the park if it is safe. Once there, kids can play on the park toys or simply walk through the park. An active family lifestyle will help kids develop healthy exercise habits. If possible, bring along the family dog. Dogs love to run and the kids will love chasing the dog. An outing at the park can be complete with a family picnic.

Enjoy Nature Walks

Families of nature enthusiasts may appreciate a nature walk or hike. Make the outing more fun by playing games focused on nature. The games will keep the kids entertained and enthused to continue the expedition. Bring along a camera to catch all the fun as well as the beautiful sites the family is sure to encounter on the nature walk.

City dwellers or those who do not live near a park can still take advantage of a family walk. A walk through the neighborhood or even to the grocery store is a great way to get exercise. Many public schools open up their outdoor playgrounds and sports fields after hours for public use. Pack a basketball or soccer ball and take advantage of an open area for the kids to run in.

Active Families Walk

Simply walking the kids to and from school contributes to an active family lifestyle. Evaluate errands that would normally be done via car or public transportation. When feasible, try and cut out at least one car trip and make it into a walk. Young children can be pushed in strollers or pulled in wagons if the excursion is too much for their little legs. The simple act of creating an active lifestyle for your family will assure that your children grow up and lead a healthy active life.

Holiday Gifts In A Jar-Gift Giving Ideas

Gifts In A Jar =  Great Food Craft For Kids

Making gifts in a jar can be a rewarding afternoon with the kids making a craft that becomes a gift. Gifts in a jar are a great holiday gift that can be rewarding for the kids and also for the person receiving.  Whenever kids cook or “play” with food before they are 12, it impacts their lifelong good health. Even though brownies are not healthy, this is an opportunity to teach small children the value of time in the kitchen. Using a small amount of whole wheat flour does not change the taste and gives you a chance to explain to children the value of whole wheat.

Brownie Gifts In A Jar

This recipe for gifts in a jar makes a 2 quart bowl as pictured in the video.  Just cut your ingredients in half for a one quart jar.

Brownie Ingredients
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup M&Ms
1 cup flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
any flavor chocolate chips
3/4 cup walnut pieces

1. Combine half of sugar with cinnamon.
2. Layer the ingredients in your batter bowl patting gently in this order: salt, baking powder, 1/2 cup wheat flour, cocoa powder, plain sugar, M&Ms, walnut pieces, 1 cup white flour, cinnamon sugar, chocolate chips
3. Cover with wrap and batter bowl lid. Add instructions for baking on a holiday card as follows.

Instructions For Holiday Gift Tag:

1. Heat oven to 350*
2. Spray baking pan with pan spray or coat with oil.
3. Mix brownie mix with 3 eggs, 1/3 cup water and 1 tsp. vanilla.
   (If making only 1 QT, tag should say = 2 eggs, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp. vanilla)
4. Bake 35 minutes.

Kids Outdoor Fun-Healthy Activities

Kids Playing In Dirt-Fun Healthy Outdoor Activities

This is a follow up article to the one I wrote a few weeks ago about kids playing in the dirt. Children who are involved in outdoor activities have a stronger immune system. I wanted to share some of the outdoor activities that we have had fun with this Fall.

Children Playing In Dirt

Studies are showing that children who play in dirt have a stronger immune system.  The exposure to more germs boosts the immune system.  There are many outdoor activities that are inexpensive, fun and will help your kids have an appreciation of nature as well.

An outdoor activity that we participated in this fall  was the Sweet Potato Festival.  We literally got an opportunity to dig in the dirt.

Big Kids & Little Kids Enjoyed The Day

Happy Kid With Fruit Of Labor

Healthy Children’s Activities

Healthy outdoor activities are not hard to find.  Picking pumpkins gave us an entire afternoon of fun. Children who spend time outside have a better appreciation of nature and will be better stewards of our earth!

Picking Pumpkins

A Great Day To Be Outdoors!

Spending an entire day outside with children picking pumpkins is a very affordable activity and an excellent investment in children’s health. Children who spend time outside are less likely to develop depression.

The Best Pumpkin

Outdoor Fun Can Be Exhausting!

Give your children the gift of a strong immune system and good health. Find some outdoor activities and take the kids for some fun playing in the dirt.

Healthy Children = Happy Children

Your children deserve to be healthy.  A child will be much happier when they have lifelong good health.  Raising healthy kids in the 21st century does not have to be expensive but it does take some thought and knowledge.  Keep your kids healthy by encouraging an active outdoor lifestyle and provide them with a natural whole food diet.

Please share some comments of outdoor activities that you enjoy with the kids in the comment box below!