💪 Building a Foundation for Healthy Kids: Essential Tips for Parents

Today in 7 minutes or less you'll learn:

• Obesity and overweight statistics for children in America

• 7 tips on fighting back against societal unhealthiness

• Update on Bryson the Brave Bison children’s book

• A 100% natural product to help children’s skin

According to the Partnership for a Healthier America approximately 17 percent of U.S. youth have obesity, and nearly one in three children and adolescents are either overweight or have obesity. These numbers are prior to the impact of covid lockdowns and have continued to rise even higher today.

Researchers estimate a staggering 9.4 percent of children ages 2 to 5 already have obesity! The obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 has also more than quadrupled during the past 40 years – from 4.2 to 17.4 percent – as well as tripled for adolescents ages 12 to 19, climbing from 4.6 to 20.6 percent, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

This crisis marks the first time in our history that a generation of American children may face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents! What are we doing to the children in America?!

It’s up to us as parents to teach our children what healthy eating and body weight looks like. We are the ones who choose what foods we have in the home and allow our children to eat.

Our current food supply is set up to destroy us and our kids. In fact, according to research 73% of the US food supply is ultra-processed. One of the problems and challenges we face as parents is that the food industry makes it harder then ever before to afford, find, and purchase healthy foods. Most the food on shelves today is loaded with sugar, preservatives, and junk food.

Not long ago parents didn’t have to worry about such things. Food was grown locally and there weren’t huge corporate companies targeting our kids and families to try to hook us on unhealthy foods. Therefore, we must be intentional to go out of our way to find healthy food, and often times it can be cost prohibitive.

This has been a challenge for our family as well, and we decided it’s time to fight back. If you expect perfection, you will be dismayed. Here at the Homestead Herd we believe being intentional and trying is worth it rather then throwing our hands up and saying forget it.

So what can we do to combat the attack on us and our children from the food industry and a society who encourages unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity? Here are 7 ways to fight back.

1. Grow or raise some of your own food (start small, you can do it!):

   • Nutrient density: When you grow your own food, you have control over the type of soil, fertilizers, and pesticides that are used. This allows you to grow nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables that are not only fresher but also more nutritious.

   • Increased physical activity: Gardening and farming require physical labor, such as digging, planting, weeding, and harvesting. Engaging in these activities can help you burn calories and stay physically active.

   • Improved mental health: Gardening and farming can be therapeutic and relaxing activities that reduce stress and improve mental health. Being surrounded by nature and engaging in activities that promote mindfulness can improve your mood, reduce anxiety, and alleviate depression.

   • Reduced exposure to toxins: Growing your own food allows you to control the use of pesticides and other chemicals, reducing exposure to potentially harmful toxins.

   • Greater food security: Growing your own food can help ensure access to fresh, healthy produce even in times of food shortages or emergencies.

   • Connection to food and the environment: Raising your own food can help you develop a deeper appreciation for the food you eat and the environment that supports it. It can also help you develop a greater understanding of where your food comes from and how it is produced.

2. Homemade Sourdough Bread: Make your own bread at home. Sourdough is the oldest form of leavened bread and becoming popular to make in homes across America. There are many health benefits to homemade sourdough including improved gut health.

   Here is a youtube video on how to make it. You can also follow Instagram influencers like Lisa Bass on Farmhouse on Boone that regularly share all things sourdough with their followers.

   My wonderful wife, Megan, offers a local subscription service for those that may not have the time to make it but would love to have it in their home.

3. Raw Milk: Purchase raw milk from a reputable source instead of regular milk. We purchase ours from Copia Farms and in the future plan to have our own milk cow on Silver Lake Bison Farm!

   • Nutritional Value: Raw milk is rich in nutrients like calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and protein. The nutrient content of raw milk is not affected by processing or pasteurization, which can destroy some of these nutrients.

   • Digestive Health: Raw milk contains beneficial bacteria that can help improve gut health by supporting the growth of healthy gut bacteria. These bacteria can also help reduce inflammation in the gut and improve digestion.

   • Allergies and Asthma: Some studies suggest that raw milk consumption may reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in children. However, more research is needed to confirm this potential benefit.

   • Immune System Support: Raw milk contains enzymes and antibodies that can help support the immune system and protect against infections.

   • Reduced Lactose Intolerance: Some people who are lactose intolerant may be able to tolerate raw milk better than pasteurized milk. Raw milk contains lactase, an enzyme that helps digest lactose, which is destroyed during pasteurization. However, this is not true for all lactose intolerant individuals and should be approached with caution.

4. Encourage Physical Activity: Children need at least one hour of physical activity every day to maintain a healthy weight. Encourage your child to participate in outdoor activities such as biking, running, and swimming. You can also involve your child in household chores such as cleaning and gardening to increase their physical activity levels.

5. Water: Drink a big glass of water first thing in the morning. Drinking water first thing in the morning can help kickstart your metabolism, which is the process by which your body burns calories. This can lead to better weight management and improved digestion. Drinking water on an empty stomach can help flush out toxins from your body and improve the functioning of your kidneys and digestive system.

6. Limit Screen Time: Children who spend excessive time watching TV or playing video games are at a higher risk of becoming obese. Limit screen time to no more than 2 hours a day and encourage your child to engage in other activities such as reading, drawing, and playing with friends.

7. Ensure adequate sleep: Young children need a lot of sleep to support their physical and mental development. Ensuring that they get enough sleep is critical to their overall health. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can help them get the sleep they need. Adequate sleep can also boost their immune system and help them stay healthy.

These past couple weeks have been eventful with the anticipation of our children’s book Bryson the Brave Bison releasing on June 27th.

Thank you to Balanced Family Academy here in the Columbus, Ohio area for inviting us to share Bryson’s message of courage with your students.

Here are some additional insights into Luke’s school presentations. They consist of 4 parts.

1. Sharing his background and story. He learned what courage was at a young age growing up the first 7 summers of his life in Idaho where his father was a Smokejumper. After college he followed in his father’s courageous footsteps, and became an Army bomb squad leader. He led men and women on the bomb squad teams in combat supporting special operations in the war in Afghanistan.

2. Explain the story of how Bryson the Brave Bison came about. Teach kids that it take a team effort to produce the book: Author(s), illustrator, publisher, etc. Each person plays an important role to the success of the book.

3. Explain the story and message of Bryson. You don’t have to be the biggest, tallest, fastest, or most talented to be brave. Instead courage is a choice and it’s in all of us.

4. Read the book to the kids and answer questions.

If you’re interested in inviting Luke to speak to students at your local school district this fall please email [email protected] and let us know! Depending on schedule NY Times best selling illustrator of the book, Richard Cowdrey, can also join to make for a great time of fun and learning for the kids.

It was also exciting this past week to see the trench for the electric being ran to the barn and future Airbnb space! Unfortunately, it’s so wet out the poor fella digging slid into the trench and had to be pulled out.

As parents to 5 young children dry skin, rashes, and other skin related issues are not uncommon in the home. We’ve previously used products like Aquaphor, but can’t say enough about this 100% natural Earthley soothing skin balm that was recommended to us by a Physician Assistant. It’s our go to item now for things like diaper rash, dry skin, sunburn, or to put on a booboo 😀. Click the link below if you want to learn more.

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