Coca-Cola promotes a fit lifestyle

When I received a question from Coca-Cola asking me what’s my key issues when it comes to nutrition, I was puzzled. I kept thinking, what does Coke and nutrition have in common?

My answer was to limit sugar and refined foods with my toddler or kids in general.

We all know the perception of this brand in the community, everyone says its bad yet many people still consume it. It’s an addiction just like coffee or your favourite cake. Coke is one of the popular items I see displayed in the front of the store and every second trolley has at least one 2 litre bottle. It’s a common drink to order at a restaurant or at a party.

In general fizzy drinks should be drank in moderation but how many people keep to that?

Like many other brands who are known to be “bad”, Coca-Cola is earning millions of dollars yearly and don’t need to bother what people say about them but yet they do!

They decided to promote exercise by creating awareness via athletic events and even created a website which allows you to get information you need about the brand and ingredients. Although Coca-Cola isn’t known as a “health” conscious brand, they are trying to help create awareness on the benefits of exercising. They trying to build a community of fit people. I admire that the brand as acknowledged information from the public and are trying to help “burn” those 145 happy calories.

“In South Africa, tea and coffee are the most popular source of caffeine; other common sources include chocolate, energy drinks and some soft drinks. The amount of caffeine in food and beverage products varies with serving size, type of product and method of preparation. A 240 ml serving of Coca-Cola has 23 milligrams of caffeine, which is about one-third the amount of caffeine found in a cup of brewed coffee and one-half the amount found in a cup of tea. The caffeine content of most energy drinks is similar to that of coffee.”

Yes I do drink coke although my husband hates it. I’ve drunk coke for many years however I drink it in moderation just like tea or coffee. I always try to give Kitana water instead of juice or coke but sometimes without my knowledge someone is giving her. We not the perfect family and we don’t have a strict health conscious diet but we believe in exercise.

As a parent, I want to teach my child about eating the right foods and the importance of fitness. Coke is one of the popular mentioned beverages to avoid when discussing a healthy lifestyle. Many dietitians say stop it completely but what about the chocolate cake with lots of sugar we feeding our children? I believe if you have too much of anything, there will be problems. We can’t blame brands when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, it’s up to us to decide what’s good for our family.

It’s important to get our kids active from a young age. A simple activity of hop scotch or tennis can strengthen the bones.

SA Heart foundation to give us important information on how we can encourage young children to sit less and move more.

“To reduce the amount of time children and young people spend sitting, it is important to try to limit the amount of time they spend doing these things and encourage them to move more. There are many ways you can help children and young people to move more. All it takes are a few small, simple changes to daily activities.”

Tips for parents:

1. Limit how much time your child watches television, uses a computer and plays electronic games, such as before or after school (particularly during daylight hours).
2. Remove televisions, computers and electronic games from bedrooms.
3. Use a timer or an alarm clock to keep track of how much time they spend watching television, using a computer or playing electronic games.
4. Limit the number of televisions, computers and electronic games you have at home.
5. If you drive your child to and from school every day, try to walk or cycle with them once or twice a week. If you live too far from school for your child to walk, park the car 1 kilometre from school and walk the rest of the way.
6. Talk to your child’s teacher about setting active homework.
7. Think of fun things to do as a family instead of watching television.
8. Try to have at least one full day every week where your family doesn’t watch television, use a computer or play electronic games.
9. You are an important role model to your child, so try to limit how much television you watch and time you spend using a computer.
10. Give your child active alternatives. Instead of hiring a DVD or computer game, do something active instead. Use a skipping rope, play Frisbee or go to the local park.
11. Give your child a bike and some basic active play equipment, such as a hula hoop or balls.
12. Keep a box of active play equipment on hand for when your child says they’re bored.
13. Don’t use movement-based electronic games instead of active play, such as riding a bike.
14. Share with other parents ideas for encouraging children to be more active.

Tips and info were given from Coca-Cola Company. Opinions are my own.