VALUE OF WORK
It’s that time of the year again; school is out and children are on vacation, causing us to make fun plans for things for them to do. Getting a daily dose of sun, regular exercise and nutritious meals, most children will be out and about or sitting watching TV or playing video games. With this likely scenario for the vast majority of children during the summer months, parents need to have some “tools” at their disposal to continue on the healthy road so as not to contract viruses at swimming pools, infections etc . With that said, I have developed somewhat of a medicine chest to help keep the many ailments of summer from invading your home and family.
The first and probably easiest way to keep your family healthy is to drink plenty of pure water, preferably distilled, every day. Each family member should have a bottle of water that gets refilled throughout the day, thus eliminating the need to drink out of water fountains or to purchase beverages laden with sugar from vending machines.
Next is good, wholesome food. This can be achieved easily by always having fresh fruits and vegetables cut up and ready to eat. Add to this some whole grains, nuts and seeds to create energy and you have a health-promoting meal simply and easily. Meals do not have to be complicated. A simple quinoa/oatmeal for breakfast, a veggie wrap or homemade soup for lunch, and a green leafy salad with a lean protein (which can be a mixture of beans or a small slice of sustainably sourced chicken) for dinner is the best way to ensure that your children are getting the nutrients they need to have energy throughout the day and to sleep well at night. For an afternoon or evening snack, make up some delicious green smoothies or have some more nuts and seeds along with some veggie sticks and a healthy ranch dip!
I cannot stress enough the importance of some form of regular physical activity each day for at least 30 minutes as well as quality family time. It’s been proven time and again that children who feel loved and spend quality time with their parents get sick less often and perform better.
Take a brisk walk or play an outdoor game with your children every day. It will do all of you a world of good!
So have fun and enjoy the time with your children this summer. Remember Maceys Cooking Corner is every Thursday at 7 p.m. at Maceys Spanish Fork. We will resume again on July 30. For more information, call Afua Daines at 435-773-8280 or email her (which is better) at afua@1from2.com.