Finding Balance -- American Beverage Association's Mixify Effort

Being a teen nowadays is much different than it was when I was young. I didn't have cellphones, Facebook, Instagram, or even email!  I wasn't overwhelmed with homework, overscheduled after school, and I certainly had plenty of free time. Even though times are much different now, I still had the same struggle with finding balance in my life. It's no secret that the teen years are crucial in developing good lifestyle habits that will stay with us forever. Finding the right balance of exercise, eating healthy and beverage selection was always a challenge for me.

Each day is a challenge for Kam. She gets up at 5am, before anyone else in our family. She gets herself ready on time and I make sure she has a protein-packed breakfast with a large glass of milk to start her day. She dances an hour a day at school and always packs a healthy lunch loaded with fruits, veggies, and protein.  Her days are pretty routine up until this point and it's easy to make good choices. Then the 3:00 after-school hunger strikes and the challenge begins! 

Kam loves to have a small soda in the afternoon with a carb-loaded snack and she balances it out with a protein. Some days she'll swap a soda for a tea or a lemonade, and chooses a candy bar instead of a healthy protein. I know the struggle and I try to teach her about moderation and balance, rather than totally having her eliminate things she enjoys from her diet.  She has hours and hours of homework each night and still finds time to get to the dance studio for her evening classes. The weekends are the toughest because all she wants to do is relax, catch up on books and have fun with friends. It's all about finding balance!

The American Beverage Association has come together with a mission to support families' ongoing efforts to achieve balance. Mixify is an all about inspiring teens to find balance in their mix of food, beverage and physical activities. It was started when moms across the country asked the leading beverage companies to help support and educate their teens about finding balance, without totally eliminating things they enjoyed. Mixify also includes features teen specifically asked for, like the opportunity to speak with professionals (dieticians and trainers) for advice on how to find balance in their busy lives. To visit the Mixify website for teens, visit www.MyMixify.com.  To learn more about Mixify and all the other efforts America's beverage companies are doing to help families achieve balance, visit www.DeliveringChoices.org.  You can also find MyMixify on social media... Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.

“Coke, Dr Pepper and Pepsi understand that getting a balanced mix of foods, drinks and physical activities for your family isn’t always easy. That’s why they’re coming together for the first time ever to talk to teens about balancing what they eat and drink with what they do. With tools to help teens get active and information to help them think about when they’ve had too much, or maybe when it’s time for a treat—America’s beverage companies are supporting our efforts to find a balanced mix that works for our families.”

I am so proud of Kam and all she does in her daily life to achieve a balanced lifestyle. She maintains straight As in all honors classes, makes healthy choices in her diet and still splurges on things she enjoys! 

BlogHer is giving away a $100 Visa gift card to one lucky reader. To enter for a chance to win, just leave me a comment below and let me know: what you do to keep your family balanced?  Tips?

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