Our bodies need an assortment of nutrients to stay healthy! Doing the same thing over and over again can get pretty boring. Well,the same thing goes for what you eat. Even if you like something a whole lot, you should mix in some fun new flavors every once in a while.

Eat the recommended amounts from each food groups to feel your best. The Average Kid not only eats healthy sized meals, but also tries to have reasonable amounts of food from each of the food groups. There's a reason why plates aren't as big as tires, and it's not because we would have trouble carrying them to the dinner table!

Nutritional content varies, even within a food group. Not all foods are created equal. Ever wonder why the triangles in the pyramid get smaller towards the top? It’s because the nutritional content of different foods – even of those that are in the same food groups – are not equal. Look at the pyramid. Now, imagine all of the different foods that you eat. If you were to arrange them within the pyramid, it would be pretty easy to figure out which groups they go in. But how would you arrange them within the group? The ones that are better for you would go down in the bottom (larger) portion of the triangle, while those that aren’t as good for you would go up closer to the (smaller) top. So, the triangle shapes are simply to help you to remember that there are certain foods that you should eat more of, and some that you should try eat in moderation.

Daily physical activity is an important part of maintaining a well balanced lifestyle. Recent studies show that the Average Kid should get at least an hour of exercise a day. That doesn't mean you have to run around a track or do jumping jacks all day. Anything that gets your heart pumping and your body moving will do the trick!

Take small steps to stay motivated and to avoid getting overwhelmed. You know what's much easier than making a big change all at once? Taking small manageable steps. That way you'll have a bunch of victories to celebrate along the way.

Since we're all different, we all require different amounts of food / nutrients and activity. It's ok to be different. In fact, it's pretty awesome. Our differences are what make us so interesting. How boring would it be if everyone dressed the same, looked the same, ate the same and acted the same? So boring! So don't worry if your healthy living plan isn't exactly the same as your friend's, it should be personalized to fit you!