by Chrishonda Brown
As the busyness of the school year begins again, sometimes physical activity gets left behind. Here are some easy ways to keep your family moving and active.
Mix it up. Go for a family swim or play a good old fashioned game of tag. Do your kids know how to jump rope or hula hoop? Learning is good exercise too!
Make your TV your personal trainer. Every commercial break the whole family can get up and exercise. Jump, walk, run in place or even stretch. Watching with no commercials? Set a timer and pause to exercise.
Make it fun. Use their imaginations. You can scale a wall, do jump shots, paddle a canoe or soar in space all right from your living room.
Every little movement counts. Shoot to add up 30 active minutes a day for you and 60 for your kids. You’ll be able to tell the difference!
Chrishonda Brown, M.S. in kinesiology, is a guest columnist for Kansas State Research and Extension, Wyandotte County. For more recipes visit www.kidsacooking.org Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KSREWyco and follow us on Twitter @WyCoSnapEd.
Freeze ‘n Go Breakfast Bars
Makes: 8 bars
2½ cups whole grain granola
2 8-ounce containers fruit-flavored or vanilla yogurt
1 cup berries (strawberries, blueberries, etc.)
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk
Directions:
Lightly coat an 8×8 square pan with nonstick spray.
Line pan with about ¾ cup of granola.
In blender, combine yogurt, fruit and nonfat dry milk. Blend until smooth.
Fold 1 cup granola into the blender mixture with stirring spoon or spatula.
Pour yogurt mixture into pan.
Top with remaining ¾ cup granola.
Freeze for at least 4 hours or until firm.
Cut into 8 rectangles, or 16 for smaller children or to use as snack bars.
Keep frozen until ready to eat.
Nutritional information for each bar: 173 calories, 19g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 6mg cholesterol, 51g carbohydrates, 7g fiber, 26g sugars, 116mg sodium, 19g protein, 1% Vitamin A, 21% Vitamin C, 30% calcium, 19% iron.