Many of us strive to keep ourselves physically fit, but how about our family members? With childhood obesity on the rise, there’s no better time to make health and wellness a family affair.
TV, video games and computer use all compete for your family’s attention. Throw in sugary snacks and on-the-go meals, and it’s no wonder we have an overweight nation. Ignoring the problem only puts everyone at risk for future health problems. Time to get active and make it stick. How? Try the following activities and watch your family’s fitness level soar.
Cook and dine together. Kids love helping out in the kitchen. Why not use this opportunity to teach them healthy eating skills that will last a lifetime? Share your favorite low-fat recipes with your kids. Make it an interactive lesson. Sure, they might pour a little too much into the measuring cup, but just pour a little out and you’re good to go. All that measuring won’t hurt their math skills, either. When dinner’s ready, gather at the table, not in front of the TV. Talk about the meal preparation experience. Was it hard? Easy? Somewhere in the middle? Not only will you experience quality bonding time; you’re also focusing on what you’re actually putting into your mouths. When we eat while watching TV, we tend to zone out and ignore what we’re eating, and drastically increasing our odds of overeating.
Take walks. The family that walks together, talks together. Most of us don’t get enough time to exercise and communicate with our families. Here’s a great way to tackle both of those issues. Create a family ritual of walking after dinner. Whether just walking around the block or all around the neighborhood, anything’s better than nothing. If weekdays pose a time issue, aim for brief, brisk walks Monday through Thursday, and reserve the weekends for longer jaunts.
Don’t Use Food as a Reward. A cookie for an A+ paper? Not in this era. Rewarding children with food can cause deep-rooted nutrition issues that can take a long time to break, as well as cause weight problems. Instead, reward them with an activity, such as a bike ride.
Keep Foul Weather Days Active. Make snow days fun by creating obstacle courses throughout the house. A family dance contest is always a blast. Make sure you have the video camera handy so you can tease dad about his moves for years on end. Got a pole? Limbo! If it’s not too cold, throw on your coats and have a snowball war. Whatever you do, keep couch potato time to a minimum.
Set a Good Example. Children mimic what they’re taught. Teach them how to follow a proper diet and exercise plan – and stick with it—and they’re far more likely to become healthy adults. Take them grocery shopping and show them how to read labels. Don’t buy junk food. Teach them new exercise trends.
Remember, it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to get your family fit and stay that way. Have fun keeping fit together. Your children will thank you for it.