February is American Heart Month; it was created to raise awareness of heart health issues. Friday 
kicked off the month’s events with the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day, which is part of the Go Red for Women campaign created in 2004. Let us extend this month’s heart health awareness to our children.
There is no end to what we do for our children; and there is no better place to start than with their dear little hearts. There is plenty to do to keep them healthy. Teaching them how to have an active life style and healthy eating are two great ways to start.
An active life style will help them develop strong muscles and bones and reduce the risk of some chronic disease later in life.
Children need about 60 minutes of moderate intensity activity a day, like cycling, dancing, games, most sports, swimming and walking. Also activities like climbing, gymnastics, jumping, skipping enhance muscular strength, bone health, flexibility and muscular strength, are recommended at least twice a week.
Their hour of activity can be broken into 15 or twenty minutes, as long as by the end of the day they get their full hour. You can start with walking to and from school with your child. Arrange for after school sports or play.
Encouraging your children to eat healthy improves not only their physical health, wellbeing, and concentration at school; but develops good habits for life. Introduce your children to colorful plates. Blue berries, green broccoli, orange carrots, purple plums, red tomatoes, yellow corn.
We all know our little hearts love snacks. Keep their snacks healthy:
Whole grains such as granola bars and cereal, fresh fruit and vegetables, yogurt, dried fruit, string cheese…deserve a place in your child’s backpack, hand and eventually tummy.
We all have our gooey chocolate days and couch potato nights. Maybe if we start early our children will, as young adults, take the initiative to have a healthy lifestyle habits that could lower their risk significantly for heart disease…What a lovely Valentine’s Day gift that would be.
Happy Heart Month,
R.R.Cratty
The American Heart Association for kids: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3028650
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