Maintain a healthy routine for kids during pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is entering its 18th month, and it’s clear that our community continues to experience ongoing emotional and physical effects. Adults nationwide have lamented the extra weight (jokingly referred to as “the COVID-19 pounds”) piling on due to inactivity during the pandemic. 

It is important to discuss and recognize the similar effect the pandemic has on children. Between cancellation of sports and group physical activities, lack of usual routines, a more sedentary lifestyle with online learning, access to frequent snacks at home and mental health challenges, there are countless factors that have contributed to the co-epidemic of childhood obesity during COVID-19.

Below are a few things families can do to stay healthy right now:  

• Keep healthy snacks at home. Examples include celery with peanut butter, pretzels and hummus, carrots and ranch, and nuts. If you avoid keeping junk food in the house, you’ll be more likely to make a healthy choice!  

• Plan your meals for the week ahead of time. Knowing your dinner plan ahead of time will make it easier to pass up the drive-thru. Get your kids involved and take into account the foods that they like. Getting them involved in the cooking process and looking at healthy ingredients can help them make better food choices when they’re on their own as well.  

• Make exercise an enjoyable family activity. Ride bikes, go for a walk in the neighborhood or take an online dance class. Finding the motivation to exercise is much easier when you have a partner. 

It can be difficult to maintain a healthy routine while everything else in life feels upside-down. New habits take time to form but making it a team effort between yourself, your children and your pediatrician will put you on the fast-track to healthy living! 

Madelin Schneck, MD, is a Gainesville pediatrician.

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