The earlier you can develop a healthy family habits, the more likely your kids are to roll with them. So, it is crucial to help them make lifestyle choices that will serve them well as adults.
If you’re trying to make sure that your family lives a healthier life, adopting some of these healthy habits could make a big difference.
Making healthy eating your new lifestyle
If healthy eating is a way of life for your family, it’s hard for kids not to develop good habits around nutrition.
Suppose you don’t have unhealthy foods in the home, and you only dish out natural treats. Then, there’s a much better chance your family will come on board with eating well, especially when you do it early. That said, it’s never too late to get your family eating healthily!
Drawing clear lines around “everyday” foods
Similarly, healthy families tend to draw clear boundaries around the foods classed as “everyday” foods and which foods can be eaten but not as a staple.
In a nutshell, “everyday” foods are the healthy kind that can make up the bulk of your meals and snacks. Nutritious, whole foods fall into this group.
Anything processed and high in sugar, salt or fat goes into the other category. So while you can’t entirely ban such foods, you shouldn’t eat them every day.
Ideally, your kids will know the difference between the two groups and why certain foods fall into the “everyday” group while others don’t.
Cooking Together
Get your kids involved in making the meals. And snacks that go on their plate are a healthy habit that can help create a positive relationship between your family and good nutrition.
Make cooking a family activity and get everyone engaged in preparing food. Give small children a role in the kitchen, even if it’s just setting the table or stirring the bowl when you’re baking together. Bigger kids can take a more active role and get more hands-on.
Smart Snacking
Traditional snacks such as cookies or crackers can be high in sugar and salt. Swapping them for fruits and raw vegetables is often a much healthier choice. Lots of fruits are naturally sweet, and you can team raw veggies such as celery and carrot with nut kinds of butter for a more filling snack.
Making time for meals
Too often, mealtimes are a rushed affair. Get into the habit of making eating more mindful and mealtimes more leisurely. This will ensure everyone has time to digest their food fully. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity for spending time together as a family. And that means no devices at the table!
Making Physical Activity a Priority
Making exercise a crucial part of day-to-day life is another healthy habit. Pretty much anything goes, as long as it gets everyone moving. Get creative and find activities that the whole family will enjoy, and it might not feel so much like exercise.
Even a gentle walk in the morning or evening as a family can count. It helps boost mood, reduce anxiety, and even improve sleep patterns. And it cuts down on family screen time, which is another bonus!
Encouraging Gratitude
An easy way to do this involves encouraging your kids to keep a gratitude diary and write down 3 to 5 things they’re grateful for. It can be straightforward and doesn’t have to be anything truly profound. Instead, expressing gratitude for the more minor things in life can be more effective.
Studies have shown that gratitude diaries can help to improve wellbeing, promote better sleep, and even boost immunity. From a parental point of view, those are some pretty incredible benefits!
Minimizing Screen Time
Spending time apart from your devices is a great way to improve the whole family’s mental and overall health. Because unfortunately, research has linked technology to increased levels of stress and anxiety. So, when you think of it like that, you can see how important it is to reduce your family’s screen time.
Making mealtimes a tech-free zone is an excellent start to putting this healthy habit in motion. You can take this further and have a whole day dedicated to turning off technology, for example, screen-Free Saturdays or Sundays for every family member. This is an excellent opportunity to spend some quality time together without the inevitable distractions of technology.
Making time for a good healthy meals, exercising, and visiting nature often is a very important part of your health. Good for everyone!