MAKING the right choices when it comes to nutrition and exercise can be tricky.
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Despite a strong emphasis on the need to be healthy, a bombardment of conflicting and often complicated information can be a complete overload for parents trying to do the right thing.
But local families are benefiting from a fun and free healthy lifestyle program aimed at helping them navigating the land mines surrounding unhealthy bodyweight.
Go4Fun, a government funded program for kids above their ideal weight, is aimed at helping families make a life-long change to the state of their health.
Interactive discussions are held to teach easy and effective ways to improve children’s nutrition, physical activity and self-esteem.
Practical demonstrations, games and tips about healthy foods, label reading and portion sizes are also incorporated.
Classic games like tunnel ball, hackie-sack and table tennis get kids active in a group environment.
For Sharon Martin and her nine-year-old daughter Mattise, the program has made the world of a difference.
“I was finding it really difficult to make her understand how important good food choices are,” Mrs Martin said.
“Now that she’s learned from other people, she’s really embraced it.”
These days, Mattise is telling the rest of the household how they should be eating.
She has also developed a keen eye for reading food-package labels, with a new found ability to understand them.
Mattise has also developed friendship with other kids in the Go4Fun group like 10-year-old Shakira Evans-Morgan, who comes from a different school.
“We just started to learn more about each other and then became really good friends,” she said.
Shakira’s mother Kelly-ann Evans said the program allowed her to spend some quality time with her daughter.
“It’s been great to be with her and learn what’s actually good for her to eat,” Mrs Evans said.
“We’ve cleaned out all the cupboards and gotten rid of all the snacks. We now have a better understanding of nutritious foods, labels and exercise.”
Something, group leaders Amanda Fletcher and Jen Arnold, say is a key goal of the program.
Ms Arnold said the kids were displaying a keen interest in exercise and healthy eating.
“We’ve really noticed their motivation increase throughout the term,” Ms Arnold said. “They’re doing really well.”
Ms Fletcher said the children were evidently learning how to bring good food and exercise habits into their lives, and the positive results were encouraging.
“They’re also reducing their screen-time, which is a really big challenge,” she said.
Term two Go4Fun programs will begin on Monday, April 29.
The Port Macquarie Go4Fun program will run at Hastings Public School on Mondays from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
The Wauchope Go4Fun program is at Wauchope Indoor Stadium on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 4pm to 6pm.
Interested persons can contact Margo Johnston at Margo.Johnston@ncahs.health.nsw.gov.au or call 6562 0324. Alternatively, you can register your interest by calling 1800 780 900 or SMS for a call back to 0409 745 645.