How to Eat Right and Get Active Together

By Nathan Godsey

Editorial note: Today’s guest blogger is one of my favorite so far. Nathan Godsey is an 11-year old chef, who is passionate about cooking. Nathan is a young advocate for health and nutrition. I am honored to have him as a guest blogger here at Weighting Line! Be sure to visit his website for more fun recipes and information.

My dad asked me my thoughts on Family Fitness. I told him that fitness is important for good health, and that people need to make fitness a big part of their lives. Also, since most families are super busy, it can be really hard to find the time to get exercise and plan healthy meals. I think that there is a way to making fitness easier for all families: Make it simple and fun, and do it together!

Our family likes to go on walks together or go to the YMCA to swim together. We love both for different reasons. We like going walking because we go to this place with a big, fun rock to climb, and we play chase in a nearby playground—- my parents even join in the fun. We also like talking to each other and seeing other people walking. We even like to make a challenge for ourselves by walking farther each time and picking new trails or neighborhoods to explore.

Playing in the pool is just fun, period. Having swimming races or even splashing and jumping in the pool is great exercise, and you don’t even realize that you are getting real exercise because you are having so much fun. The best part about walking and swimming at the pool is that anyone can do it. Lots of games can become family activities. I’ve even got my dad to play Airsoft and Lazer Tag with me. He had so much fun!

I believe that exercise doesn’t always have to be running on the treadmill or lifting weights, you can get lots of exercise together as a family just by playing together and doing fun activities together. Instead of sitting around watching TV and playing video games, families can get active by taking walks to the park or even around the mall, swimming at the local pool or lake, or even challenging another family to a game of baseball!

Eating right is just as important as getting exercise. I went to a party where a kid I know ate 10 hotdogs and stopped only because they ran out. YUCK! I don’t know if he was trying to show off, but that is an example of bad eating habits — I think he felt sick later, too. It’s okay to have a hotdog, but you should also try to not over eat.

Mom and Dad help by making sure that my brother and sister and I have the right amount of food at each meal. They also make sure that we eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. And we are always trying new healthy foods.

I love to cook, so I have a blast experimenting with new recipes and foods. Mom and I like to create new recipes, and we’ve found fun ways to use less of the fattening ingredients like butter, sugar and oil by replacing them with fruits, real fruit juices, fresh herbs, and other healthy ingredients. We’ve even gotten my little sister to try my new healthy recipes, and she was surprised by how much she liked them!

And we also have a special pact in our family: we decided not to buy junk food when we go grocery shopping. Instead of filling our pantry with chips and soda, we buy fresh fruit, nuts and snacks made from all natural ingredients. And I’ve found that bottled water works better, and faster than soda, when you’re really thirsty from playing outside.

Becoming healthy and fit can be easy for a family. Make exercise a family activity. Try new healthy foods together. And remember to encourage and support each other—- that’s what families are for!

As a fun way to spend time together as a family, and have a healthy treat, here’s one of my favorite snack recipes that is super fun to make and even more fun to eat!

UFO’s (Upside-down Fruity Objects)

Ingredients:

• Pineapple Ring
• Fruit filled Gelatin Cup (Dole brand Cherry flavor with mixed fruit works great)
• 4-8 mini Pretzel Sticks
• Chocolate chips

Directions:

Place Pineapple ring on plate. Open Jell-O Cup (with fruit), jiggle it out a nudge with a knife helps, place it upside-down on the pineapple ring, poke pretzel sticks in Jell-O, add a few chocolate chips around (optional), or dust with powdered sugar (optional), share with friends.

About Nathan Godsey
At age 11, Nathan is a national advocate for family healthy eating and fitness, has his own cooking and travel show Fun Food Adventures, and has been featured on the Ellen Show (NBC), The Mike and Juliet Show (FOX), and Food Network. He is currently working with Dr. Jim Hill of the American Society for Nutrition and Olympic Trainer and Speed Coach Phil Campbell to promote healthy lifestyles for families. For more information, visit www.nathangodsey.com.

Images: Nathan Godsey