5-a-Day Advice on Being Active

The 5-a-Day program gives the advice that staying active and doing exercise and running helps you in many ways:

• Makes you look and feel great.
• Helps you keep a healthy body weight.
• Gives you more energy.
• Reduces stress and helps you relax.
• Improves your overall health.
• It is a great way to have fun with family and friends.

Children should exercise and be active for at least 60 minutes a day. This can be done all at one time or breaking it up into several 10 and 15 minute periods.
You can be active in many ways and do activites like running that exercise your heart and lungs, make you stronger, and improve your body's flexibility.
At home you can walk, run, bike with a friend or family member. You can play at the park or at your school. Gardening and dancing are even good forms of exercise.
Start easy when you begin an exercise program. Start with 10 or 15 minutes then work up gradually to 60 minutes.
Every day watch what you eat and include colorful foods that help you eat the 5 to 9 servings that your body needs for good health. Each week try to try a new colorful fruit or vegetable.
Do your exercise with friends and try to get them to do the 5 to 9 colorful fruits and vegetables every day with you.