Staying healthy: a family affair

10 tips for putting health first in your home

A healthy lifestyle is important for everyone, not only in preventing ill health but in sustaining a happy life too. But we know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be tricky, especially if your children, partner, or relatives are not as passionate about it as you are. 

If you are nodding in agreement, keep reading for our top 10 tips to get your family involved in your healthy lifestyle:

1. Share the housework. Vacuuming, mopping, taking out the trash, and sweeping - not only will your home shine, but you’ll all work up a sweat too.

2. Be a little sneaky. Add some spinach into the smoothie mix, or some grated carrots in the Bolognese sauce - your kids will never know!

3. Play active games. Hop-scotch, hide-and-seek, jump-rope, musical chairs, and Simon says are fun family-friendly options. 

4. Spend more time outdoors. Vitamin D is essential for good health and the sun is your best source. Why not plan an outdoor picnic for your next lunch meal? 

5. Make healthy snacks the default. Kids and (partners) are always scrounging for snacks. Place fruit and healthy snacks at the front of the fridge or snack cupboard and bury any processed snacks deep in the pantry. You’ll find yourselves eating healthier snacks more often by removing temptations. Take a look at Top Tips for Surviving a Snack Attack for tasty suggestions.

6. Add an element of competition. Allow each family member to choose an exercise and see who performs best. For example, who can do the most pushups or hold a plank the longest during the next television commercial? Only time will tell.

7. Complete DIY projects together. Now’s the perfect time to paint that wall, build a box car (and race around the garden in it), or build a treehouse. YouTube has some fantastic ideas.

8. Promote a positive attitude. Rather than being forceful with behaviour change, encourage your family to get involved and acknowledge milestones. This can motivate your family members to develop their own go-getter attitudes. 

9. Make healthy eating fun. Get creative in the kitchen and ask family members to help you decorate the plates. For example, use broccoli as trees, rice as sand, olives as eyes, and corn as teeth. Let your imagination run wild.

10. Practise what you preach. It’s important to be an excellent role model, but you also need to show yourself empathy when things don’t go according to plan. You are human, after all.

You can’t expect significant changes overnight, but persistence pays off. Your family members will soon notice the happier and healthier you. Before long, they’ll all be on their own wellness journeys too.