Making Healthier Decisions as a Family
By Rachel Shouse
While making healthy decisions as an individual is important, it's also important to involve your family in those decisions. The more you involve them the easier of a transition it will be. Whether you have small children, older children, or if you don't have kids, involve the people closest to you. Making healthy changes such as diets, exercise, and creating a healthy routine are all very important habits to instill in your children.
Creating a Family Friendly Diet
Most people don't like the word diet. They immediately associate it with their comfort foods being taken away. While diets will change how often you eat those treats, that doesn't mean that they're gone forever. Since you're involving your children in this, be sure to have a similar conversation with them.
Kids struggle with things in different ways than adults. Adults' brains are able to handle more than a child. Your struggle could feel 10-times worse for your child so be sure to be gentle and offer healthy alternatives to their requests. Think about the type of food they're asking for. Is it crunchy? Offer them an apple with peanut butter. Is it sweet? Offer them a favorite fruit instead. Is it ice cream? Freeze mashed bananas or yogurt. There are a lot of really yummy alternatives to everyday treats for kids.
Exercising as a Family
It can be hard finding ways to exercise as a family. Mainly when the weather doesn't cooperate. If you have a warm day, take them outside. Exercise doesn't have to involve weights or other workout equipment. It can involve a football and your yard. Your exercise could be a family walk at the end of the evening.
There are a multitude of outdoor exercises available to families. You may get bored walking around your neighborhood day in and day out. Try to think outside the box when your workouts feel monotonous. So many communities have trails to explore. This can be a lot of fun with kids, you can let them lead the way.
Creating a Healthy Family Routine
Most household routines vary from home to home. There are things that should be in everyone's routine in order to maintain their health. Adults know that they should brush their teeth and hair, make their bed, clean up after themselves, etc. Children don't know how to do all of that unless you teach them. Making these activities daily habits really do make it a lot easier.
You can start off small and have them brush their teeth after dinner before they put their pajamas on. Have them help make their beds. Those types of things will become a habit the more they do it. It's important to create a routine that works for you and your people.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Elgin, Ill.