As a stroke survivor and spokesperson for the American Stroke Association, I know firsthand the impact of living a healthy lifestyle. I’m also an advocate for wellness and disease prevention, and am working in the community, writing and speaking to raise awareness about preventing heart disease and stroke.

But as a mom, I also have a responsibility to try to teach my kids healthy habits as young children to encourage them to grow into healthy, active and productive adults. With the alarming increase of childhood obesity and the resulting increased risk of developing health issues and disease, it’s more important than ever to teach our kids that their day-to-day choices can have long-term effects. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014, it was found that childhood obesity affects 13.7 million children and adolescents in the United States. Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing asthma, bone and joint issues, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.