This post was sponsored by Real California Milk and The Motherhood.
#FuelGreatness #CADairy
We’re well into our summer break (well, the kids are… I’m not getting much of a break this summer), and the temperatures are climbing drastically. I don’t remember it ever being this hot in June. It’s kind of putting a damper on our outdoor activity since we had plans to walk every morning, do some hiking, definitely go to the beach often. I need to come up with some more indoor activities for the kids to keep them active now that they don’t have their daily physical education classes that they had during school.
We are actually pretty fortunate that we have a PE program in place at our schools… I know so many don’t with all the budget cuts over the last several years. The kids do a lot of physical activity for 10 months of the year so it’s important to keep it up during the 2 months they have off for summer. In fact, we’re ALL trying to incorporate more physical activity into our daily routines, as well as making a concerted effort to focus more on our nutrition.
I’ve kind of been doing a little research on getting kids more involved in heath and nutrition and I love that the National Dairy Council partnered with the NFL to come up with the Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign that promotes physical activity and good nutrition in schools. They are working to encourage kids to focus on nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
My kids love anything dairy and I came up with a few great low-fat dairy snacks for them so they can get a little extra protein, calcium and vitamin D in their diets.
- Frozen yogurt - take some low-fat or non-fat yogurt and mix with frozen fruit, letting the fruit melt a little bit so it blends in with the yogurt and then freeze.
- Yogurt covered grapes - freeze seedless grapes and roll in your favorite flavor of yogurt. Stick back in freezer on parchment paper until the yogurt freezes. These are a fabulous snack when it’s extra hot out.
- Fruit and veggie bags - always pre-cut fruits and veggies to keep in the refrigerator and have on hand some small yogurt cups for dipping. If everything is pre-cut, the kids (and you) are more likely to grab them for a snack.
- Milkshakes - don’t discount the milkshake because you think they are ladened with calories. If you use low-fat milk and some fat-free ice cream, your milkshake will taste amazing. Add some bananas for extra flavor and thickness.
Getting the right nutrition is going to help boost up your activity as well. When you feel better, you are more likely to want to DO more. Did you know that there are more than 1,400 dairy farms in California? I was floored when I heard that. I figured there were only a handful, but in our family we ONLY buy Real California Milk products so I’m happy that we are at least supporting our own local dairy farmers.
Check out www.fueluptoplay60.com/ for more information and to get your kids and local school involved. Kids to sign up to be a FUTP 60 ambassador, which encourages leadership amongst peers, healthy nutrition and physical activity.
How do you encourage healthy eating and physical activity during the summer?
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