Making Healthier Choices With Your Family
By Rachel Shouse
There are a multitude of benefits to creating a healthier lifestyle. While it's very important that you do this for yourself, you should also think about including your whole family in this change. Studies show that children who are raised with certain habits are more likely to retain those habits compared to someone who wasn't raised that way. Making changes to your family's diet, exercise, and technology time can yield many a benefit.
Changing Your Family's Diet
Changing your diet can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and many other health complications. Now think about what that means for your children, grandchildren, etc. You could change your entire family's habits for years to come by making that sacrifice now.
Regardless of how you were raised, you can choose to do it differently with your spouse or significant other and children. While it can be hard to make diet changes, there are ways to simplify this step. There are a lot of appetizing healthy foods out there and all you may need to do is explore.
Another rough step when changing your diet is cravings for unhealthy foods. There are healthy alternatives to those foods. If you're craving ice cream try freezing bananas or a favorite fruit of yours. If you're craving something salty, try whole grain chips or vegetable chips. There are a lot of alternatives to unhealthy foods.
Make Exercise Family Time
Exercise isn't everyone's favorite activity. While some may thrive while sweating and working really hard, others may dread the very thought. Involving your family and thinking about the benefits they're receiving could provide more motivation. It doesn't have to be really complicated. Adding a simple 30-minute walk per day can yield benefits.
Change Excessive Technology Time Into Family Time
Phones, tablets, and computers can take up a large chunk of your day. Sometimes it is something you need to do and can't be avoided, which is fine. Technology is great and can be a lot of fun. Too much technology time can cause both physical and mental problems. Mentally it can worsen depression and anxiety symptoms and increases the amount of time isolated. The physical problems this can cause range from poor posture, to eye strain, and more.
There are many reasons why families should make these decisions and/or changes together. Not only are you more motivated by working with your family, you'll be changing the habits of those you love most for years to come. These changes may not be easy to make as a unit, but it's well worth it.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Rialto, Calif.