It’s never too early to develop healthy eating habits in your children. During the toddler years, when kids are learning how to interact with their environment and how to communicate with others, what seems like “picky eating” is actually a way for these young children to maintain control over as much of their own lives as possible. Despite this challenge, you can — and should get your toddler interested in healthy foods, as this is the first step towards a lifetime of healthy eating.

As an innovative company finding ways for Americans to receive affordable, high quality health care coverage, Cinergy Health promotes the goal of healthy living for the entire family — and that starts with healthy eating at the toddler stage.

One way to help promote your toddler’s good eating habits is to ensure that you are eating nutritious food too. Young children aim to imitate their parents in every way, so if they see you eating your veggies then they’ll want some too. It is also important to give your toddler a choice of healthy foods. That way, he can still assert his independence, but no matter which choice he makes, the food he eats will be a good one. You can also incorporate fruits and vegetables into other foods such as muffins, pancakes, spaghetti sauces and casseroles to help incorporate them into your toddler’s diet. Toddlers may also prefer cut-up fruits and veggies that they can eat “on the go.” Because as everyone knows, no toddler can sit still for long!

Babies come in all shapes and sizes. People often find chubby babies to be adorable, but sometimes the baby’s pudginess can be a cause of worry for the parents. They may wonder if their child is growing into obesity, or if they have another condition that causes weight gain. If this is the case, it is advised to consult with a doctor from Cinergy Health or another company, in order to properly assess the situation.

However, babies usually start out with a little padding, and this is completely normal. Babies need this extra fat for warmth, energy and development. It is important never to keep your child on a low-calorie diet or low-fat diet. A visit to a doctor will help you put your mind at ease without accidentally harming your baby or his development.

Babies gain weight very quickly during their first few months of life. If you are concerned about keeping your baby’s weight healthy, many doctors advise breast feeding for at least the first six months. Studies have shown that children who were breastfed are less likely to become obese later in life. Another thing to make sure to do is only feed your baby when he’s hungry. Parents often feed their baby as a means to stop their crying, and this can definitely cause unnecessary weight gain. Fruit juices are also not recommended, because they are full of sugars and calories but lack the vitamins and minerals that real fruit has. Try pureed fruit instead. Physical activity is also very healthy for your baby. Even if your baby has not yet learned to walk, let him have more time in an open space (not a crib) so he can roll and stretch his arms and legs. Help your baby sit and stand when ready, and encourage the use of “bouncy chairs” and walkers.

If your child is diagnosed with asthma, it’s important for you, as a parent, to be informed and to know how to speak to your child.  Some children will feel that there is something wrong with them and that they aren’t normal.  Children should understand that, for the most part, asthma is controllable.  Speaking with health professionals within your plan, whether it’s Cinergy Health or another provider, can help you to become more educated and aware.

According to information from the American Lung Association, the better that you and your child understand asthma and its implications, the better able you’ll be to deal with it and control it.  Make sure to work closely with your doctor so that you can reassure your child and help his health to improve.

When you first begin a new weight training routine, it’s important to have a plan.  You need to know what you will be doing, how long you plan for each session to last, and how to approach your exercise plan.

Begin your training session with a warn-up.  This can include any light aerobic activity such as walking, biking or stair walking.  Then, stretch to prepare for your weight training.  In general, weight training is grouped into repetitions and sets.  Find a weight you can lift and repeat the movement at least eight times.  If you can’t manage to lift it 8 times, then it’s too heavy for you.  If you can do it 12 times really easily, then you need to increase the weight.

A typical program includes one or two sets of 8-12 repetitions.  Rest for one minute between each set.

Finish every session with a cool-down period of stretching.  This will help you to maintain your flexibility and to prevent injuries.  Certainly, you should consult with a physician before starting any exercise program, and you should get advice from a qualified instructor when you first begin doing a weight training program.