In keeping our kids healthy, an appreciation of physical activity is not the only value that parents must instill. It is also vital that children learn to eat (and crave) nutrient-rich, wholesome foods that will support their health throughout life. Thankfully, an appreciation for such foods is growing and most grocery stores now offer organic snack options, along with the organic fruits and veggies. Additionally, with the onset of spring and the coming summer, farmer’s markets are returning with local, organic produce, breads, and even meat and seafood options!

Meanwhile, Judy Keane – a writer who addresses all things organic for SheKnows – recently assembled a list of 10 Organic Snack Ideas that won’t send your kids running for the hills!

Taken from SheKnows

1. Offer a rainbow of veggies w/ yummy dressing during family movie night.

2. Try an organic, pre-made frozen pizza.

3. Serve up some delicious berries with yogurt for dipping (Personal favorite: Greek with honey!).

4. Make your own hummus – it’s easier than you think! – and serve with organic tortilla chips or crackers.

5. Nachos with pure, organic ingredients, including beef, cheese, beans and salsa!

6. SMOOTHIES! Throw those berries in the blender with yogurt and a dash of maple syrup.

7. Mini-muffins with a glass of cold milk are always a satisfying treat.

8. These days, there are tons of delicious, organic cereal options. Include yummy organic milk and you’re good to go.

9. Peruse those grocery aisles for the many organic snack options filling the shelves.

10. Make organic snacks the easy choice by preparing them ahead of time!

Read on for all the great suggestions…

Remember, kids will mimic the example you set. So, let’s show our little ones how to eat well and live actively!

Thoughts of summer immediately trigger images of sunny days by the pool, bike rides, and romps through the park, or nearby forest. Each one of those thoughts involves engaging activities that keep kids healthy and on the move.

Taken from The Family Groove

Unfortunately, more and more, summer activities look like hours on the couch while the TV drones and the video games blare. Additionally, spending hours in the house gives kids constant access to the pantry, racking up calories that are never fully utilize.

Taken from cornell.edu

Keeping our kids active during the long summer holiday can be a daunting task, but it’s not an impossible feat! Recently, Michele Borboa, MS composed a fantastic article for SheKnows filled with tips on, Easy Ways to Exercise Without the Kids Even Knowing It!

Taken from SheKnows

1. Make Physical Activity Fun

Get kids moving with fun, age appropriate games. Hopscotch and Hide-n-Seek for the little ones. Hula hooping and water balloon contests for older kids…

2. Encourage Functional Activity

Ride bikes to the store, wash the car by hand, plant a garden…

3. Play Tourist in Your Town

Visiting museums, theme parks, or the zoo means entertainment and WALKING…!

4. Get Outside

Just a change of scene and the fresh air can motivate kids to move…

5. If You Can’t Beat’m, Join’m

Introduce video games that involve physical activity…

Read on for all of Michele’s awesome suggestions…

Thanks so much SheKnows and Michele for assembling so many great ideas to keep kids healthy this summer! And, remember to bring along GeoPalz to track those steps and earn cool prizes!

Here at GeoPalz, we love a success story! Especially when it involves a parent effectively encouraging a child to appreciate physical activity and wellness. Our cultural trend continues to march toward a rising obesity rate. This means the environment our children grow up in will likely demonstrate poor habits in terms of activity and eating. As a result, children are less and less likely to observe healthy habits in peers, teachers, or the media. The responsibility lies entirely on the shoulders of the family, and most specifically the parents.

Geek Dad already has an active five-year-old, who loves to be outside and doesn’t spend hours on the iPad. That being said, Geek Dad recognizes that as kids age – and the allure of video games, TV, and social media grows – the struggle to encourage activity becomes that much harder. So, in an effort to demonstrate and encourage habits that his son will need throughout his childhood and adult life, Geek Dad gave the boy a GeoPalz three-axis accelerometer!

Taken from Wired.com

Decker now frequently comes home from school with 7,500 to 10,000 steps recorded, meaning he’s getting around four miles worth of walking during his day. By the end of the day, he’s been averaging between 10,000 and 13,000 steps… and I’m quite happy with that! He wants to run everywhere now, too! He’s figured out that he gets slightly more points when he runs versus walks.

Geek Dad goes on to evaluate the many rewards features that help to incentivize kids, including things like soccer balls and frizbees, media coupons, and Amazon.com prize selections! Additionally, the GeoPalz website achievements for milestones – such as 25000 steps taken, and it provides kids with a digital map that shows their progress and how far they are from achieving goals.

Taken from Wired.com

For Geek Dad’s full review…

Thanks so much for such a detailed description of the great GeoPalz features Geek Dad! And, thanks for setting such an awesome example for parents everywhere!

In preparation for summer, which is just around the corner, She Knows has compiled a list of the best kid-friendly fitness gadgets – and GeoPalz is at the top of the list!

Taken from SheKnows

Having trouble getting your kids to turn from gaming and work their muscles instead of just their minds? The GeoPalz activity tracker turns being physically active into a game and even comes with prizes. A decorative tri-axis accelerometer, the GeoPalz tracker, which comes in nearly two dozen designs, clips to your child’s shoe or hip and monitors activity throughout the day for up to 21 days. Those steps are converted into points, and prizes are available to kids based on points received. To track the whole family, GeoPalz.com features a Family Area. The kids use the GeoPalz, but moms, dads and older kids can also get into the fun by importing data from devices like the FitBit or Nike Plus.

Not only are we happy to see GeoPalz getting some buzz, but we’re thrilled to see the move for greater activity and physical wellness spreading! Let’s make summer 2012 an active and healthy holiday for our kids!