Have Fun Be Healthy Project

What should I give my child to eat? Making healthy food choices can be challenging for parents, especially when we are bombarded with foods that are loaded with sugar and saturated fats. Helping your child to learn how to live a healthy and active lifestyle is one of the most important things you can do to ensure they grow to up to be healthy adults. It’s never too early to start!

Childhood obesity has become a global epidemic and unfortunately Australian children are no exception. A recent study found 19% to 24% of school age children in Australia are overweight or obese; these rates are among the highest in the world. In addition, some Australian children are not receiving the daily recommendation of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they need to help them grow up healthy and happy.
 

Playgroup Queensland has a program called Have Fun-Be Healthy which focuses on nutrition and fun physical activities for families with babies and young children under school age. This includes cooking and physical play sessions for families in selected Queensland areas. The Have Fun - Be Healthy project is supported by Queensland Health and will be guided by expert staff from Nutrition Australia, Queensland Department of Sport and Recreation and Queensland Health.

Have Fun-Be Healthy Tips

Sit down and eat with your child
Breastfeed your child exclusively for the first 6 months (appropriate solids may then be introduced in addition to continued breastfeeding to at least 12 months)
Do not provide young children with soft drink, cordial, energy drinks, sugary juices, or sports drinks.
Low fat foods are not suitable for young children
Choose foods low in salt
Limit the amount of time your child spends watching television and playing electronic games
Encourage physical play
Children learn from their parents so get active and make healthy food choices!

(Queensland Health. (2001) Information Circular. http://www.health.qld.gov.au/publications/infocirc/11229.pdf)