21 December 2011

Healthy Kids Website

NSW Minister for Healthy Lifestyles, Kevin Humphries, today urged parents to use a practical, user friendly website during the school holidays that provides healthy food and activity options for children and families.

The Healthy Kids website www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au will assist parents and carers with healthy options for children over the Christmas and school holiday period.

“Healthy Kids is a valuable resource for mums and dads wanting to plan activities and make sure their kids are provided with healthy food options over the summer holiday period,” Mr Humphries said.

“As a parent myself, I know it can be difficult to keep your kids on track when they’re on holidays.  I hope that parents will value these fun and creative ways to give their children a healthy and active break from school.”

The Healthy Kids website has five key messages for the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity, including:

1. Get active each day
2. Choose water as a drink
3. Eat more fruit and vegetables
4. Eat fewer snacks and select healthier alternatives
5. Turn off the TV or computer and get active

The Healthy Kids website is part of a $53 million program to tackle childhood obesity.

Healthy Kids is a one-stop destination for all NSW Government initiatives relating to nutrition and physical activity advice for children and young people.

The website is a joint initiative of the NSW Ministry of Health, Education and Communities, and Sport and Recreation, as well as the NSW Division of the National Heart Foundation.

“The new Healthy Kids website supports the NSW Government’s commitment to reduce childhood overweight and obesity,” Mr Humphries said.

“The site is easy to use and contains recipes, ideas for physical activity and practical ways to improve nutrition, as well as specific factsheets for families and children.”