There are a million reasons why you should be fit- you'll feel great with more energy, you'll build a healthy heart and strong muscles, and you'll have fun becoming fit by finding new activities you can enjoy with friends, family, or on your own!  News 8 Now's Fit Kids program, sponsored by the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and Preferred Care, is here to help you learn more about what it takes to get fit and give you the tools to stay fit!

"That's loaded with calories!"

"Are you counting your calories?"

When people talk about the calories in food, what do they mean? A calorie is a unit of measurement - but it doesn't measure weight or length. A calorie is a unit of energy. When you hear something contains 100 calories, it's a way of describing how much energy your body could get from eating or drinking it.

Are Calories Bad for You?

Calories aren't bad for you. Your body needs calories for energy. But eating too many calories - and not burning enough of them off through activity - can lead to weight gain.

Most foods and drinks contain calories. Some foods, such as lettuce, contain few calories. (A cup of shredded lettuce has less than 10 calories.) Other foods, like peanuts, contain a lot of calories. (A half of a cup of peanuts has 427 calories.)

You can find out how many calories are in a food by looking at the nutrition facts label.

How Many Calories Do I Need?

There's a big difference between how many calories a kid needs versus an adult.  To find out how many calories you need, how many calories are TOO many, and how your body uses calories... learn more at the Preferred Care website- CLICK HERE

FYI, your BMI is PDI.

Huh? Would you like a translation? Here it is: For your information (FYI), your body mass index (BMI) is pretty darn important (PDI).

Did you know you had a BMI? Body mass index is a calculation that uses your height and weight to estimate how much body fat you have. Too much body fat is a problem because it can lead to illnesses and other health problems. BMI, although not a perfect method for judging someone's weight, is often a good way to check on how a kid is growing.

Calculating BMI

The best way to determine your BMI is to have your doctor do it for you. That way, you'll know the number is accurate and your doctor can discuss the result with you. If you're interested, you also can figure out your BMI on your own.

To use Preferred Care’s Kids Health BMI Calculator- CLICK HERE