LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville gym owner worries that kids may be spending too much time in front of a screen and not enough time being active during NTI. So, Patrick Mahoney, owner of GRIT Fitness on Frankfort Avenue, found a solution.

He started making videos showing families some easy activities they can do at home with little expense. For example, he made an obstacle course at the gym by putting some construction paper and tape on the ground. He said the goal is just to get kids active as they would during P.E. and recess during an in-person school day.

“The lack of physical activity is going to make it tough for them to stay focused throughout the day. It’s healthier for them to get up and move around,” Mahoney said.

They are calling this video series GRIT Kids. While some of the posts focus on exercise, others give nutrition tips. For example, on Monday he filmed a snack swap video.

 
GRIT Kids: Snack Tips

Healthy snacks are a cornerstone to healthy kids. Healthy snacks provide proper nutrition for your growing kids and helps them develop lifelong healthy eating habits. The right snacks can also help them stay more focused and engaged which will allow them to get more out of this time of virtual learning. We set the foundation with this video and let you know what to look for when choosing snack options. Next time you are at the grocery store stock up on a few of these items your kids enjoy. Next week we start our SNACK SWAP series where we will take common kid snacks and recommend healthier and more nutritious alternatives. Good luck to all the parents and kids out there during this new challenge! We hope we can help in some small way.

Posted by GRIT Fitness on Tuesday, August 25, 2020

GRIT Fitness employees picked out some popular junk food items that are popular with kids. They then show viewers a similar, but healthier alternative. 

 

“We want to make sure they get the proper nutrients throughout the day so their cognitive function is able to keep up with the demands of the NTI,” Mahoney said.

Since students started NTI work recently, GRIT Fitness has been posting regular GRIT Kids videos on the gym's Facebook page.