"It always starts at home," he says. "Parents play
the most important role in this area. Make sure your
children are getting that daily piece of fruit. Monitor
the hours they spend on computers and playing video
games. Get them out of the house and involved in
physical activities."
That's why Maddocks belongs to the food co-op,
which ensures she has about 30 pounds of vegetables
and fruit weekly. So there's always fresh fruit on the
counter, in sight and in mind for her children, Madelin
and Grant.
"Snack foods are in the cupboard. We want the
fruit front and center," she says. Lunches are packed
the night before with thought and consideration, and
dinners include a fresh vegetable or two.
And exercise is always a priority, she says. The family
belongs to the South Tampa Family YMCA for its wide
range of classes and swimming complex. Her daughter
is in the school marching band and rides horses.
Dr. Labovitz even likes the latest Pokémon Go craze.
"If it gets the kids out and walking around, that's a
good thing," he says.
Dr. Labovitz also serves as president of the AHA's Tampa Bay Metro Heart
Board, which is encouraging initiatives in the community that promote heart-
healthy eating. One example: getting local companies to offer healthy alternatives
in their workplace vending machines and at meals they sponsor.
"As a nation, obesity is slowing killing us," he says. "And kids are falling into the
same bad habits as adults. So the earlier we can increase awareness, the better."
Mother and daughter
prepare spaghetti squash —
a great substitute for pasta.
Madelin prepares Peter, a
retired show horse, for a
riding lesson.
The American Heart Association's
first detailed look at ideal heart
health in children offers several
criteria to get kids on the right path.
They include:
Not using tobacco products
Maintaining a healthy weight
Exercising at least 60 minutes
a day
Eating a healthy diet
Monitoring blood pressure,
total cholesterol and
blood sugar
These new recommendations are
similar to the guidelines set forth for
adults by the AHA in 2010.
Keeping Them
ON TRACK
15
fall 2016 / tgh.org
