I am continually astounded that as we progress through technology and research and uncover more knowledge about everything from stem cells to the questioning of life on other planets, that what’s been known for over 100 years still stands as truth today.

Recently while combing through old Michigan Milk Messenger magazines researching for their 100th anniversary book project, I came across this list of rules for healthy living put out by the first dairy promotion group called Dairy and Food Council:

1: Brush the teeth every day

2: Eat fruit every day

3: Drink at least four glasses of water every day

4: Eat some vegetables besides potatoes every day

5: Drink at least four glasses milk every day

6: Play part of every day out of doors

7: Take a bath oftener than once a week

8: Sleep many hours with the windows open

As you read those, tell me which ones don’t apply today to our children? Brushing your teeth? Eating fruits and vegetables? Drinking plenty of milk and water? Exercise? Plenty of sleep?

The only one I would tweak is the sleeping with the window open – but I have an eighty-something-year-old mom who still sleeps with the window open, just a crack. She’s still a healthy woman without disease and volunteering at the school two days a week … so maybe there’s something more to that window thing than I credit.

I would challenge anyone, especially those trying to force the new USDA dietary guidelines down our throats as a chaser to Obamacare, that maybe we don’t need more tofu and less red meat.

Maybe what we need is more exercise, more fluids, more sleep and more attention to moderation.

Ask any public school educator and more than likely they will agree our children are stagnant in school because of lack of movement. I wonder, if they were allotted more time in the day to run around and be children instead of being forced to sit still seven hours a day – only allowing two breaks for recess and physical education class once a week – would they need Mrs. Obama’s get-skinny-in-180-days school lunch diet of kale chips, rice cakes and a piece of fruit?

Yes I’m exaggerating, but quite honestly, sleep and exercise are the two big things I believe our children are lacking.

In 1925, hard, physical work was the norm, no one was plugged in to a device and screen time was nonexistent – and they still urged people to spend time playing outside. What would they think of us as we spend every spare moment with our noses buried in our tablets and cell phones?

Just some food for thought.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.