Sonia leads race to get youngsters fit
The former world champion and Olympic silver medallist has launched a Family Fitness campaign — with fast food giant McDonalds — to improve the health of the nation.
The Cork-born mother-of-two has a section on the McDonalds’ website where she lists her top tips for a healthy active lifestyle for families.
“There is nothing better than making a commitment to improve one’s health and getting the whole family involved,” said the star athlete.
“When families include more physical activity into their life, not only are they improving everyone’s health they are teaching good habits, having fun and spending quality time together.”
Sonia wants to see families ditch the car, spend more time walking and reduce the amount of time spent sitting in front of the television or computer.
She is calling on mums and dads to give their children a varied diet and develop their tastes by trying different coloured vegetables instead of just greens.
Dining earlier instead of late at night is also among the athlete’s top tips for fitness while eating a good breakfast is also seen as vital.
McDonalds, which serves 150,000 customers a day at its 75 fast food restaurants in Ireland, said Ms O’Sullivan’s tips would help adults and children eat more healthily.
O’Sullivan’s Family Fitness section on the www.mcdonalds.ie website also gives families advice on how to balance their calorie intake with the energy they burn off.
Dedicated exercises to help parents get children into the fitness habit are also included on the website along with quizzes about nutrition.
AMONG Sonia O’Sullivan’s top tips for a healthier lifestyle are:
Try new exercise or take up activities or sports to beat the boredom;
Eat breakfast as it is the most important meal of the day and puts you on the right foot;
Vegetables and fruits in colours like red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple bring different nutrients and attract children;
When reading labels, ensure the serving size is realistic and not an underestimation of the amount you typically consume;
Outside school, children should spend no more than a total of two hours a day watching television, DVDs or playing computer games.
