Child Stays Healthy at College
Sending your child off to college can be nerve-wracking for any parent. Not only do you want your college student to do well in school, but you also want your child to be healthy and happy away from home. Can’t stop worrying? Try these five ways to ensure that your child stays healthy at college.
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Help Your Child Stay Active
College can bring about big changes, especially when it comes to routines. Your daughter may have had a regular workout regimen in high school, but a strict class schedule and a desire to fit in with new friends might prompt a major change to her activity level. Even if she doesn’t have time to spend every afternoon at the gym, you can still help her stay active. Consider buying her a bike or make sure she has the workout gear she needs to keep her activity level high.
Send Your Child a Fitness Tracker
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When your child goes to college and has to build a healthy routine from the ground up, it might not be easy for him to keep track of his activity level. You can take the guesswork out of the equation by sending him a fitness tracker. He can use this type of smart device to track his steps and his workout routine so he can easily calculate the number of calories he burns each day.
Help Your Child Devise a Healthy Meal Plan
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If you’ve always been in charge of planning healthy meals for the family, your child might be at a loss when she leaves for college. Help her understand the benefits of healthy eating, such as getting better grades and improving her mood, and walk her through creating a healthy meal plan. If she’ll be eating in the dining hall, for instance, encourage her to choose grilled meats and steamed veggies over fried foods, starchy pasta, and sugary desserts.
Surprise Your Child With a Healthy Care Package
Snacking is a way of life for most college students, whether your child needs a study break or he’s making up for a missed meal. While junk food and takeout might be the most accessible snack foods on a typical college campus, you can help your college student make healthier snack choices. Surprise him with a care package loaded with healthy snacks like nut butter or energy bars, and encourage him to supplement them with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Encourage Your Child to Get Enough Sleep
College often means all-night study sessions and late-night parties, both of which can lead to serious sleep deprivation. Over time, lack of sleep can compromise your college student’s immune system, cause weight issues, or lead to poor academic performance. Make sure your child understands the dangers of sleep deprivation, and encourage her to establish a regular bedtime. If she can’t get enough sleep at night, afternoon naps may help.
From healthy meals to regular activity to consistent sleep, your child will have countless ways to stay healthy at college. Encourage your student to make smart, informed choices and look forward to watching your child thrive throughout his or her college career.
We all know how stressful college life gets especially to freshmen—New environment, new school, new faces, new challenges. Add to that, they may be miles away from home. We oftentimes forget all these details and focus on the academics when our teen’s health and well-being is the most important. All good points, there. Thanks for the list.