Family Day, on Monday, February 8, is just around the corner. Besides being a welcomed mid-winter holiday, it’s also a day for families to spend some quality time together. This Family Day, we encourage you to Live 5-2-1-0 and do some fun physical activity with those you love!

Four simple guidelines

Live 5-2-1-0 is a healthy living and eating initiative of BC Children’s Hospital and gives four simple guidelines for kids and families to follow:

5: Enjoy five or more vegetables and fruits every day
2: Limit screen time to no more than two hours a day
1: Play actively for at least one hour a day
0: Drink zero sugary drinks

In Canada, one in three children and youth are overweight or obese. Advice for parents and caregivers on nutrition and physical activity can be confusing, and at times overwhelming.

Live 5-2-1-0 makes it easy for children, youth and families alike to make healthier choices. It summarizes the key ways a family can lead a healthy lifestyle. “It is not just about sharing a message,” says Dr. Shazhan Amed, pediatric endocrinologist at BC Children’s and lead of Live 5-2-1-0, “it’s about involving the whole community – from parents and teachers, to family members, and local governments, parks and recreation groups, health professionals and even private businesses – to make healthy choices easy for kids.”

Several BC communities, such as Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kimberley and Hope, are already leading the way in embracing the Live 5-2-1-0 initiative. Three Chilliwack playgrounds have special Live 5-2-1-0 ‘Playboxes’ on site containing sports equipment that is free for anyone to use.

Watch the new Live 5-2-1-0 video here and tell us one thing you’re going to do on Family Day (and hopefully every day!) to live healthier. Share yours in the comments section below, or tweet your one thing using the hashtag #live5210.

Share on social media

If you are on social media, join the conversation by sharing a message on Twitter or Facebook:

• Join the Live 5-2-1-0 movement & change ONE thing to be healthier as a family. What’s #Live5210? Watch this: https://youtu.be/D9K0LSgGjwY
• Be a role model, help kids choose healthy. What’s one thing you’ll do on #FamilyDay (& every day) to #Live5210? https://youtu.be/D9K0LSgGjwY
• Teach kids that the healthy choice is the easy choice. #Live5210 by being active & eating well. https://youtu.be/D9K0LSgGjwY #BCChildrens

For a complete list of Family Day events happening across BC, check out http://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcfamilyday/events/.

For more information, including tips and resources, visit www.live5210.ca.

Background

Live 5-2-1-0 is an initiative of BC Children’s Hospital, led by the SCOPE Team. It is supported by the Canadian Institute for Health Research and Healthy Families BC. The program was launched in 2009 with support from Child Health BC, the Childhood Obesity Foundation, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.