When it comes to heart health or health in general, it’s important that we think not only of our own cardiovascular health but also that of our kids. A study last year found that obese children and teens have as much plaque in their arteries as a 45-year-old adult, setting them up for heart disease and other serious health conditions much earlier than their parents. This breaks my heart!
If you’ve got kids, of course you want to make sure they grow up fit and healthy. But you also know it’s hard to juggle work, family, and physical activity. Still, setting a healthy example is a good start. research shows that parents who are physically active increase the likelihood that their kids will be active as well. So if you’re looking for ways to get your kids involved, check out how I have incorporated an active lifestyle in our household.
Plan outdoor activities
Set aside at least one day (a weekend) to do something active as a family: swimming in the summer, sledding or hiking in the winter, or biking in the spring and fall. Take along a picnic lunch that contains healthy snacks after a good workout/ playful activity. Skip the juice and mindless carbs and pack the fruit infused water and apples with a bit of peanut butter.
Take classes together
Check out your community’s website or ask around at fitness clubs, community centers or friends with kids your age about yoga or aerobics classes offered to parents and kids together. I took a ballet class at the YMCA with Annora when she was 2.5 years old and it was GREAT bonding time. If your little one is too young to participate, look for classes that help you burn calories with your baby by incorporating them into your yoga moves or pushing them along during stroller workouts. Just heading to the metroparks and seeing what activities they have available can be beneficial to getting out of the house and moving together.
Redo your family room
Too often, family rooms are the center of laziness in a home: a comfy couch, a video-game console, a shelf full of DVDs, and nothing to encourage fitness or physical activity. There are ways to add in subtle reminders, however, without overhauling your entire room or dragging in a giant piece of workout equipment (which isn’t a bad idea either). Set a time limit on weekly television viewing and incorporate games, dance parties, dramatic play (sorry we are mommy and daddy to little ones) to keep your whole family moving.
Make chores fun
Turn chores into a game you can all do together. Race to see how fast you can get the house cleaned, and then try to beat your old time the next week. Play music while you’re doing laundry, and enlist the kids to sing and dance while helping to fold and put clothes away (this helps because laundry is my kryptonite and the kids love helping when I make it fun). Take the dog for walks together, and squeeze in some running, roller-skating, or jump rope while you’re at it.
Make over your meal plan
Families that eat TOGETHER and healthier also tend to have other healthy habits, such as regular physical activity. If you want to slim down or just want to eat better overall, get your entire family involved and you’re more likely to succeed. Take kids to the farmer’s market, let them pick their own fruits and vegetables, and involve them in the food preparation. They’re much more likely to enjoy their meals and try new things when they have helped prepare the meal in some fashion.
0 Comments