Getting the family fit can be easy with some simple tricks. Keeping a family journal for fitness and nutrition will get the whole family moving and making good food choices. Having a healthy household starts with the parents. Being an active and healthy role model for your children is a wonderful gift that you can give to your family.
Article: An active family stays fit together. The practices of good health and fitness when displayed by a parent are invaluable. Children emulate the choices that are made in the household regarding physical activity and nutrition. Make sure you are doing your best to support this. Here are some ways that can help keep the whole family in tiptop shape.
To get started, schedule a regular time throughout the week for physical activity and take turns selecting an activity that everyone can do together. Keep a fitness/nutrition log to chart activities, minutes being active, amounts of fruits and vegetables consumed. This will get all family members motivated and challenged to do the best that they can. Get the whole family involved in choosing the activities. Assign someone different to be the leader each day or week. Here are some ideas of activities you can do:
- Play a game of family basketball
- Ride bikes around the block
- Organize a fitness challenge (pushups, crunches, driveway sprint, jumping jacks.
Make sure to schedule family "active" time for the weekends. My family stops at a park after church on Sundays where we climb up a big hill and sit under a huge oak tree. You can create a fun afternoon with a picnic lunch of healthy snacks to enjoy after you walk around the park and play on all the playground equipment. Getting the whole family involved makes it easier to get everyone to do it, and sets a good example of how children and adults learn the importance of living healthy lifestyles.
Some of the contributing factors to the obesity epidemic are less physical activity in our schools, longer hours for parents at the office, more time in front of computers, and way too many convenient stops for fast food. We have to change this and the only way is to start in the home. Take walks, eat at home, get your kids involved in living the healthy lifestyle. You can do it and your whole family will thank you.