Healthy diet and active lifestyle helps Coco ace cross country

Coco Veber-Nichols, 5, cleaned up at her West Auckland school's recent Year 1 girls cross country, which she ran barefoot. Photo / Supplied

At just 5 years of age, Coco Veber-Nichols is already a promising athlete and passionate dancer.

The West Auckland school pupil cleaned up at her recent Year 1 girls cross country - which she ran barefoot - bringing home the first place getter's medal.

"I won it," she told the Herald proudly. "My feet started to hurt but I really wanted to win. That was the best thing for me to do."

Coco is also an avid dancer, attending weekly jazz and ballet classes.

She's keen on swimming, scooting, playgrounds and gymnastics too.

And her Kaurilands Primary School holds fortnightly "jump jam" classes, where she and her classmates burn off energy dancing to the likes of Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop the Feeling.

She rarely sits still.

Mum Juliette Veber said she tried to ensure Coco and her younger brother Rocky, 3, mainly ate healthy foods, with plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Screentime was limited to encourage physical activity.

"We're trying to teach them to enjoy healthy food by limiting sugar and living active lives."