By Linda M. Tobias

If you haven’t heard of 5-2-1-0, you soon will. It’s an evidence-based message promoting four simple guidelines for raising healthy children. Fraser Health New Westminster, School District 40 and a variety of other government & social organizations are embracing the philosophy to ensure that New West kids thrive. The most important way to affect a child’s life though is at home. So, are you ready to learn about the four easy steps to keeping your child healthy?

5 (or more) servings of vegetables or fruits every day

We’re told that the meals and snacks we give our kids should follow Canada’s Food Guide, but busy schedules, fussy eaters and dietary restrictions can make this tricky. If you’re having a hard time sticking to all the guidelines, making sure that your child has five servings of fruits or vegetables every day is a great place to start. The great thing about fruits and veggies is that they can be eaten raw as a snack, steamed/grilled as a side, or hidden in some of your kids’ favorite meals. A quick Google will give you lots of ideas on how to make veggies fun; here’s one example. For more tips on how to encourage healthy eating to your child, click here.

2 hours of screen time

Whether it’s a favorite TV show, video game or iPad app, screen time can be hard to avoid. And that’s not all bad. After all, it’s a great way to keep kids occupied while you get things done and much of the content for kids is educational. But two hours each day is all that a developing child needs. The rest of the time should be spent exploring the world around them. Want to learn more about the research and recommendations regarding screen time for the under three crowd? Click here.

1 hour of activity

Getting kids active for one hour per day can seem challenging. After all, here in Vancouver, it rains more often than not, and winter doesn’t leave many daylight hours outside of school. But our city makes it easy. Check out the City of New Westminster website for safest walking routes to local schools. Walking to school can be a great way to start your day by being active. Meanwhile, Parks, Culture & Recreation offers a wide variety of programs, including drop-in activities. Check out their Active Living Guide and Affordable Brochure (for low-cost and free activities) online. And you can find lots of fun activities like this to do at home when you’re not up to venturing out. To learn more about Canada’s guidelines on physical activity, click here.

0 drinks with added sugar

Wait does that mean no chocolate milk or Kool Aid… ever?! No, of course not. Sugary drinks can be a great occasional treat, but the idea here is that we use them in moderation and encourage our children to rely on water to quench their thirst. Not only does that make for healthier kids, but it saves you money too. Metro Vancouver has some of the world’s best tap water and it’s free!

To learn more about 5-2-1-0, click here.

Kids New West is pleased to welcome Linda Tobias, a New West mom, writer, and editor. Read more of Linda Tobias’ writing at: http://innewwestwithkids.com/