October is National Children’s Health Month!

We are going to offer a few tips for keeping your children healthy this October and year round! Today’s theme is…teach your children how to go green!

Calculate your Carbon Footprint

Using this nifty tool from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) you can figure what your household carbon footprint is, and adjust different options in your routine to see how it changes during different seasons or what would happen if you changed certain habits. Cyber school students are on their computers all day – which might impact your homes energy bill. Combat a possible increase by turning off lights when you leave the room, minimizing TV usage, and unplugging or powering down devices that aren’t in constant use.

Be smart about your H20

For large families, a little water saving goes a long way. An extra 5 minutes in the shower or leaving the water on while the entire family brushes their teeth adds up quick! Teach younger children to turn the water off while brushing their teeth, and take shorter showers instead of turning your bathroom into a sauna. Replacing plastic bottles with reusable tumbler glasses or thermoses is a great way to cut back on the amount of waste produced by plastic bottles. Reusable plastic water bottles usually come with tons of lid options that lock and seal tightly – perfect for a spill free zone near your computer or school supplies. Can’t give up store bought water completely? Make sure to recycle!

Increase your fruits and veggies!

We know – technically – not all fruits and veggies are green, but there are tons of benefits for adding a rainbow of color to your meals in the form of fruits and veggies. The food pyramid parents grew up with has been replaced with “MyPlate” which visualizes what portion of your plate should be covered by each food group. According to the professionals who helped develop “Choose My Plate,” fruits and vegetables should account for roughly 50% of a child’s diet. A simple way to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed in your house – grow them yourself! Tomatoes and cucumbers can grow almost anywhere in the summer, and don’t require much space. If you have a fruit loving family, stick with berries – strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries can be grown in small containers, or large backyards. If you are interested in learning more, PA Virtual offers an elective Nutrition and Wellness for our high school students.