Parents should promote ‘activity habits’

Experts recently told parents that they should emphasize activities rather than exercise to their children in order for them to have a healthier lifestyle.

What parents can do about “activity habits” was discussed during the Healthy Pacific Child Conference held Saturday morning at the SandCastle, Hyatt Regency Saipan.

Guest speaker Lynn Corella from the Community Guidance Center shared to more than 100 parents what they can do to improve the nutrition and lifestyle of their children.

She said parents should set a good example to their children. “Be active yourself,” said Corella.

She said parents should find fun activities the whole family can do and share with one another. They should also encourage their children to participate in sports. Children should also be limited with their TV time and have them perform chores involving physical activities.

Corella said parents should be the gatekeepers to their children’s diet and activity habits. She said parents should also educate themselves about healthy diets that include fruits and vegetables. They should limit foods that are high in fat and sugar. “Limit fast food,” she said.

Selecting methods of cooking that are lower in fat must be considered too, she said. Parents should now limit sweetened beverages in their family’s diet and should find out what their children are eating at school.

Corella said schools should play a large part in making sure children have a healthy diet. She said parents must also ask schools to limit “junk food” options at vendors, and include more healthy choices of food in the cafeteria. She said there is no better way to have a meal than being together in the table.

The conference started last Friday morning and ended Saturday. The Department of Public Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service organized the event in line with their survey on the diet of children in the Commonwealth, whether they are at risk of nutrition-related diseases and deficiencies.

The survey will start on June 20 starting on Saipan followed by Tinian, and Rota. The team, led by University of Hawaii’s Rachel Novotny, will start the fieldwork at 9:30am and end at 6pm.