Tips that will Keep your Family Happy and Healthy

A healthy and active lifestyle can help you to avoid heart disease and even high blood pressure too. If you have a family, then it’s a good idea for you to keep them as healthy as possible as well. If you are ready to take that next step then this is the guide for you.

Exercise

During a commercial break or between your episodes on Netflix, why not have some family games? Ask your kids who can do the most jumping jacks and also see who can hold a plank the longest. Play is fantastic if you want to keep your family healthy, and it can also help you to give them the help they need to love exercise in the future.

Forgive

Admit any mistakes you might make to your kids and ask for their forgiveness. If you can model this behavior, then this can help you to improve the way that they act with people. It also teaches your kids the importance of letting go of grudges and also bitterness.

Manage your Portions

Try and offer fruits or vegetables with every meal. Never force your kids to eat them, but make sure that you give them as an option. If you can, try and model healthy eating too. Your kids are always watching you, and the more you can encourage them, the better.

Be Proactive

Stay on top when it comes to tracking your child’s growth, behavior and even sleeping habits. It’s also a good idea for you to try and focus on their eating and their social development too. If you can do this then you will soon find that you are able to give them the help they need to live a happy life. If you have a newborn, then learning  newborn first aid is always a good idea, because you never know when you might need it.

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is absolutely crucial if you want your kids to be happy. Try and aim to give them a set bedtime and also make sure that you are consistent with their routine when it comes to winding down. Remember that children who are deprived of sleep don’t usually slow down. Instead, they wind up. You have to make sure that you help them to know when it’s time to go to bed so that they can recover properly.

Try New Things

Make a list of the activities you want to try and also make sure that you hang it where the entire family can see. If you can do this then you will soon find that everyone enjoys themselves and that everyone can see the goals that your family has.

Build Strength

Incorporate both strength and flexibility into your activity plan if you can. This is great because it helps you with stretching and it also helps you to go further when you work out. Sure, hitting the gym is great, but don’t be afraid to incorporate yoga and other exercises into your routine because if you can do this, then you will soon find that everything comes together and that you end up being much more flexible and energetic during the day.

Spend Time with Your Loved Ones

Instill the importance of having strong relationships and spending time with your family. Kids will usually learn that giving and not always receiving can help to create a real sense of happiness. Try and schedule some virtual time with your loved ones if you can as well. This is ideal if you have grandparents who do not live close to you or if you have family who don’t live within walking distance. Teaching your kids the importance of family time is always a good thing.

Limit Screen Time

Make screen time a privilege and not a given. Try and make it so that your kids can only watch TV after they have worked on their chores or if they have done their homework. If you can do this then you will soon find that they become rewarded by it and that they can spend more time outdoors in their spare times . This will help them to expand the enjoyment that they have in life.

Reduce Stress

Look online and see if you can find any videos about yoga for your children or even for you as a family. You may also want to try and incorporate deep breathing into your routine for your kids. Children experience stress in the same way that adults do, so you have to make sure that you are giving them the help and support they need to really work through it. If you can do this then you will soon find that you are able to give them the help they need to be healthy and happy.

Show some Gratitude

Do your bit to create a gratitude jar. When you have done this, try and ask everyone to put a note in with something that they are incredibly grateful for. When you are all sat at the dinner table, take the time to read them. The great thing about doing this is that it helps you to acknowledge anyone who may be struggling, and it also helps you to make sure that everyone is appreciative of what is around them. If you are finding yourself struggling to get everyone on board then you have to remember that modelling great behavior is a great place for you to start. You may not be able to make your entire family change but at the end of the day you can get them started on your wellness journey. When they see the changes that you are making and the benefits you’re reaping, there’s a chance that they will want to jump on board as well.

Bake Together

Baking can be a very nice way for you to spend time with your family. The great thing about baking is that you get to try the treats with one another. Look for recipes online and also make sure that you get experimental too. The great thing about doing smaller portions is that it helps the ingredients to last longer. You can make six biscuits instead of 12, for example.

Encourage your Family to be Active

Encourage your kids to try and be active for around an hour every day if you can. At the end of the day, it’s fine if you split this up. Sometimes two or even three minutes of dancing and seated exercise can help. If your family are struggling to get motivated, then try and remove temptations where possible. Provide healthy alternatives and also stress the importance of being healthy as a team.

Don’t Overeat when You’re Stressed

People tend to turn to food as it makes them more comfortable. They then struggle to feel any kind of satisfaction, regardless of how much they eat. If you can, try and serve some chilled water in a glass or even try and dish up a dessert on a nice plate. If you can make eating more of an experience, you will appreciate your food more. You will also find that drinking helps you to limit the amount of portions you have as well, so make sure that you keep that in mind as much as possible. If you can set a good example, the rest of your family will follow your lead.

Develop a Good Routine

Families who tend to have a good routine are far more likely to maintain good health. You never forget to brush your teeth in the morning, so take the time to develop a good plan because eventually, it will become automatic. Healthy people don’t usually need to stress about choosing the right foods because it comes very naturally to them. If you can focus on this then you will soon find that everything else falls into place for you.

Choose Wholegrain

Carbohydrate-bashing may be in full swing at the moment but at the end of the day, you have to remember that there are so many benefits to choosing good wholegrains. The great thing about wholegrains is that they are stacked full of nutrients, and this can include folate, iron and even thiamine. They are also very good for all of the microorganisms in your body too. Instead of cutting out carbs, try and swap them for a healthier option.

Ditch the Soft Drinks

Sweetened drinks tend to be very high in calories and it’s not good for your health either. So many people try and opt for diet soft drinks because they don’t contain any calories. That being said, they do contain a lot of acid and they are awful for your teeth. If you want to restrict access to pop, then try and buy some flavored water instead. This will help you and your family to get that great taste without damaging your teeth.

Of course, making positive changes is always a good thing and you would be surprised at how much it could help you and your family to bond.