On prevention ...

As my daughter and I were walking the other day, she - somewhat randomly - inquired about how people become blind.  I told her there were many ways, but there were a few that were most commonly responsible in Canada.  She asked me if there was any way of preventing blindness, and I told her that yes, most cases of blindness in Canada are preventable (think diabetes, macular degeneration) or treatable (visit http://www.cnib.ca for more info).  I told her that the best way of keeping her eyes as healthy as possible was to eat her fruits and vegetables and move her body lots.  She gave a huge sigh and we both laughed, because that's what she always hears from me.  Eat your fruits and veggies.  Move your body.  Get enough sleep.  

She's kind of tired of hearing it, but I hope that with the regular prompts - and even more powerfully, modelling by the adults in her life - it will seep into her consciousness and her habits.  Because it's not just her naturopath mom who thinks this is important.  This article in the journal Cureus is an excellent overview of the importance of establishing these lifestyle behaviours in childhood.  If we want our population to be healthy, if we want the adults of tomorrow to be capable of being productive members of society, then these are the foundational habits that are critical to foster in our young people today.  

The recipe for a healthier kid, and the adult they will become?  Independent of all other factors (with acknowledgement of the challenges inherent in achieving some of these habits influenced by the social determinants of health):  

1. Lots of fruits and veggies (and other good nutritional practices that go along with this).
2. Lots of movement (also tied to awareness around time engaged in sedentary activities like media use).
3. Lots of sleep (acknowledging its impact on stress reduction, growth, and immune system function).

How is your kid doing?  How are you doing?