Key habits all year: Ideas for April
| Healthy You | Kids Health | 5-2-1-0
Put these 5-2-1-0 principles to work for your family’s long-term health.
Family members can help each other stay healthy. Everyone of any age can use the 5-2-1-0 approach. Here’s what each number represents every day:
- 5 veggies and fruits
- 2 hours or fewer of screen time
- 1 hour of exercise
- 0 sugary drinks
See how your family might adopt 5-2-1-0 in every season of the year.
Here are a few 5-2-1-0 ideas for the month of April:
Find ways to be playful with fruits and veggies.
This month is kicked off by April Fools’ Day. Try this “pigs-in-a-blanket” recipe that uses baby carrots. Or make whole carrots look like hot dogs. Gentle tricks done in a playful spirit can make your family smile as you try to get your 5 veggies and fruits per day.
Count your neighborhood trees.
Arbor Day and Earth Day both happen this month. See about getting outside to appreciate nature.
Little ones might like counting trees in your area.
For older kids, you might talk about the kinds of trees you see growing. Evergreen, flowering and fruiting.
See if there are opportunities to help plant trees at a park or other nearby greenspace. Think of it as a healthy break as you limit screentime to two hours.
Play catch.
Grab a soccer ball, beach ball, squishy foam ball or baseball.
Use any kind that’s appropriate for your child’s age. If there’s more than two of you, use more balls. Or take turns throwing around the circle.
Playing catch is good for building hand-eye coordination. And it’s easy to talk while you do it. It’s a great way to get one hour of daily movement.
Straws make a drink feel special.
Straws may make it more fun for your kiddos to sip their zero-sugar drinks.
You can find different kinds that won’t end up as litter. Straws can be made of paper, metal, reusable hard plastic and even wheat (score! straws made of straw!). You might even find edible straws.
Small steps make a difference. Try these and other tips to see how you and your family feel about building healthy habits — little by little.
Staying healthy isn’t always easy. When you or your family are under the weather, PeaceHealth is here for you — ready to help you get back to feeling better.
