Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
Rodger, last time we talked about the importance of nutrition and exercise. What suggestions do you have for homeschooling families who truly want to have a healthier lifestyle?

Dr. Rodger Sayre:
Mike, probably the simplest way for me to answer that question is to share what we do in our family.

First, with respect to nutrition, we make it a practice to sit down as a family for nearly every meal. Not only does that have the obvious benefit of fostering important social interaction amongst the family, but structured meals also provide opportunity for oversight with respect to both the quality and the quantity of food that’s consumed. When regular meals are supplanted by what we here in farm country call “grazing,” the total caloric intake is usually higher, and the types of foods eaten are generally of the high-calorie and low nutritional value sort.

Secondly, exercise is a daily routine in the Sayre household, even at an early age. This requires either myself or my wife to spend the time that it takes to work out right along with the kids. Exercise doesn’t have to be drudgery. I think we need to be creative, make it fun, but make it an exercise that gets the heart pumping and the sweat flowing. And it needs to be part of your daily routine.

Mike:
Rodger, that’s encouraging to know that good health is truly an attainable goal. Thank you for that. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.