Pat Palmisano

Get school year off to great start

Here are some quick tips to get you and your family on track for a healthy school year:

Nutrition strategies

- Promote a healthy home environment.
- Make healthy choices as a family
- Have more healthy foods available
- Eat meals together
- Try new foods together
- Involve the family in meal planning

Parents' role

- Be aware of your own eating and physical activity patterns
- Offer positive support
- Don't use food as a reward for kids

Family focus

- Be aware of isolating an overweight child
- Cook together as well as eat together
- Be active as a family
- Limit the availability of high-calorie foods in the home

Physical activity ideas

- Rake leaves or go for a hike
- Build a snowman or go sledding, skiing or ice-skating
- Walk around the school grounds or track
- Plant a garden
- Organize a community litter pick up as a way to get exercise and improve your neighborhood

Hand washing

This is the easiest way to prevent infection. Always remember to wash your hands at these times:

- Before eating food
- After visiting the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing into your hand

Remember, students have to be healthy to learn, and they have to learn how to be healthy.

Registered dietitian Pat Palmisano is regional health promotion supervisor at Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield. For more tips on staying healthy, visit excellusbcbs.com