As a mom, it is my utmost priority to ensure my kids are happy and healthy. Although it doesn’t come without its challenges, I focus on providing healthy and nutritious meals, encouraging physical activity and making sure they engage in positive activities that enrich their minds and souls. To help me and other like-minded parents in the U.S. the Boys and Girls of America is offering a new program called Triple Play.
Triple Play is a program sponsored by The Coca Cola Company and The Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation and is aimed for members of the Boys and Girls Club of America. It offers a holistic approach to mind, body and soul so the focus is on three aspects: healthy eating, staying active and forming positive relationships. This incredible program is available at all of the clubs and encourages parental involvement. Parents can find tools and resources for helping their kids and motivating them.
To nourish the mind kids and parents are given tools that help in selecting nutritious food at home and outside of the home. kids can learn to make smart decisions and even get specific suggestions for food options, what to eat in the school cafeteria and how to choose the correct portions on their plate. In our family, we are always talking about making smarter choices, such as eating plain yogurt and adding fresh fruit instead of buying sugary yogurt. At restaurants, we try to begin each meal with a salad that we all share so that we get nutritious food regardless of what else we order.
To nourish the body, parents and kids are given suggestions for activities for both kids and adults. There are specific games they can play either alone or as a family to strengthen their body and keep them active and healthy. Spending time outdoors is important for my family and for us, variety is key. We like to go on nature walks and to the local playground but we mix in more unique activities, such as Ropes Course and rollerblading.
For the soul, parents are provided with ideas for activities that increase confidence, encourage positive behavior and strengthen relationships, such as fun games for the whole family that require no preparation and can be played at the drop of a hat. As a family we often spend time making up silly games and stories with the kids, either at a set time at home, or while doing another activity, such as taking a road trip.
The key mantra for the BGCA at the beginning of the year was “I FEEL BETTER WHEN..”. As Triple Play is focused on healthy lifestyle changes, this statement is very powerful when making small daily changes in behavior that can, over time, have a long-lasting impact. Saying something like “I feel better when I drink more water and less juice” or “I feel better when I take a walk outside” can lead to a long-term change in behavior.
Click here to find your local Boys and Girls Club. Follow and BGCA on Facebook and Twitter.
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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 7 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.
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