GoGo Healthy Kids understands how important it is to combine active lifestyle, fitness and nutrition. We believe that children need to be inspired and encouraged to eat good wholesome food from a young age, as this is when good eating habits are developed. One of our aims is to educate families and carers in the importance of good sensible nutrition, so that parents and their children have a balanced approach to lifelong healthy eating, exercise and physical activity.

Recipes, recommendations, and general information were all written by qualified Nutritionist: Cherie Lyden. You can read more delicious and healthy receipes or contact her on www.watermelonkids.com.au

Encouraging healthy habits

Childhood is a time of learning. Children who grow up in families that enjoy a variety of nutritious foods from the Five Food Groups are more likely to make their own healthy choices as they get older. You can help by teaching your whole family to:

GoGo Healthy Kids aim is that children will gain the knowledge and confidence to make healthy, active choices throughout their lives. Fitness and nutrition are a learned behaviour and we aim to teach these important life skills in a fun, supportive and team focused environment.

Did you know?

• In NSW, only about a quarter of children aged between 5 and 15 years do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.
• Boys in Years 6, 8 and 10 are more active than girls, however physical activity declines with age.

Why get active?

Regular physical activity is an important part of getting healthy and staying healthy.

Encouraging kids and teens to be active from a young age sets good habits early on and helps them develop the skills they need to stay active throughout their lives.

Regular physical activity helps kids and teens:

• with healthy growth and development
• build strong bones and muscles
• improve balance and develop skills
• maintain and develop flexibility
• achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• improve cardiovascular fitness
• reduce stress and feel more relaxed
• improve posture
• boost confidence and self-esteem
• have fun with their friends and make new ones

Children who don’t get enough physical activity are at a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese. This makes it harder for them to be active and keep up in sport or play.

Being overweight can also make kids more prone to conditions such as asthma, flat feet and joint sprains. In the long term, it can contribute to conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and liver disease.

Research tells us that the warning signs for these conditions can be present in overweight teenagers as young as 15 years of age.

How much activity?

Kids and teens should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, including vigorous activities that make them ‘huff and puff’. They can get even more health benefits from doing a couple of hours of physical activity every day.

To help kids and teens be active every day, they need opportunities for sport, play and exercise at school, after school and on weekends.

Physical activity doesn’t all have to happen at the one time. It can be accumulated throughout the day; by walking or riding to and from school, being involved in activities at school, active play at home or taking part in organised sport after school and on weekends.