Perhaps you have seen some of LiVe’s clever commercials on TV, or laughed at one of their funny billboards. You might be a bit confused about Intermountain LiVe. So what is this great program all about?

Teen fitness and health… It’s about living life and making it last longer. It’s about eating food that won’t bog you down. It’s about not being that kid on the sofa ten hours a day. It’s about living your life like it’s the only one you have, because it is!

A key component of LiVe, is the 8 to LiVe by. These habits will help you reach and keep a healthy weight. Scientific studies show that these habits have the biggest impact on your weight, your health, and your outlook on life.

Here are the 8 Healthy Habits:

1. Always eat breakfast - and make it healthy

• Eating a healthy breakfast can improve your memory, boost your creativity, raise your test scores—and help you reach and keep a healthy weight.
• Aim for breakfasts that include 3 of the 5 main food groups. Try combos such as: cereal + milk + juice or eggs + toast + milk or fruit + yogurt + bagel.

2. Eat more fruits and vegetables

• Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients that help you learn and grow, prevent disease, and keep up your energy and mood. Studies show that they’re important for a healthy body weight, too.
• Every day, aim to get 1 to 2 cups of fruit, and 1½ to 3 cups of vegetables.

3. Limit - or eliminate - sweetened drinks

• Studies suggest that America’s weight problem is linked to America’s “drinking problem”—that is, to our increasing intake of sweetened drinks like sodas and sports drinks. Sweetened drinks are also linked to weak bones and tooth decay.
• Aim for less than 12 ounces per week of soda, sports drinks, lemonade, and other sweetened drinks. Limit juice to less than 6 ounces per day. Drink water instead, and aim for 3 glasses of milk each day.

4. Limit screen time [TV, video games, Internet]

• Research links TV to a wide range of negative health effects in children and teens—including obesity.
• Make a rule of no more than 1 to 2 hours a day in front of a TV or computer screen. (Children age 2 and under shouldn’t be watching at all.)

5. Increase your physical activity

• Everyone needs regular physical activity—regardless of their shape, size, health, or age. Physical activity gives you better energy, stronger muscles, less stress, and easier weight management.
• Aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity everyday. You can get most of this from daily playtime, walking or biking to school, or family activities. The rest can come from sports or other exercise.

6. Eat Meals together as a family - sitting down

• Many studies have shown that children and teens who eat regular meals with their parents are more likely to eat in a balanced way, do well in school, and maintain a healthy weight.
• Aim to eat dinner together most nights of the week. Sit down at the table, turn the TV off, and enjoy!

7. Be positive about food

• Experts agree that how you think and talk about food and bodies can have a big impact on your health now—and in the future.
• Forget “forbidden foods”—all foods can fit in a balanced diet. Don’t give food as a reward or withhold it as a punishment. Be food-friendly, not food-phobic.

8. Don’t criticize about weight

• If you, your friends, or your family obsess about food or weight, you’re more likely to have unhealthy behaviors—and an unhealthy body weight.
• Watch what you say. Don’t criticize your own body— even as a joke. Don’t compare your own weight, size, or shape to anyone else’s. Being healthy means being positive.

You can download some fun materials to help you and your kids work on the 8 Healthy Habits by clicking on the poster below.