By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – School is back in swing and the kids are fluttering back to the classrooms for the school year.
While students may not like some classes, all students are being encouraged to make healthy eating habits and maintaining daily exercise by eating fruits and doing activities they enjoy. Dr. Aaron Traeger, a pediatrician at Advocate BroMenn, explained that students should cut out chips and high calorie snacks in favor of healthier foods.
“What we’d like you to focus on is at least five servings of fruits and vegetables throughout the day,” said Dr. Traeger. “During lunchtime it could be a handfull of grapes, apple slices, one of those clementines that are so great and fun to peel at lunch.
Dr. Traeger also said how children should avoid drinking high calorie drinks and sugary sodas, and instead drink water to remain hydrated. But along with proper eating habits, Dr. Traeger is encouraging daily physical activity, even if it means playing after the school day.
“The 60 minutes a day should really be the bottom amount that kids are playing these days,” said Dr. Traeger. “Throughout the school ciriculum they’ve been reducing the amount of time kids get to play, so there’s not as many opportunities for kids during the school day.”
Dr. Traeger mentioned Pokemon Go as a more recent way kids are getting outside and getting exercise, but mentions that raising your heart rate while playing by jogging can increase the health benefits while playing.
Patrick Baron can be reached at patrick.baron@cumulus.com
