22 Healthy Family Habits: Try It Yourself
The importance of healthy family habits in raising healthy children is undeniable. Each child considers her parenting role as a model. Therefore, it is very important to lead them towards a healthy lifestyle that serves as an example to follow.
A healthy diet and exercise are
two habits that many people focus on, and personal health goals are great, but
it's good to keep them with your family. In addition, it is a good idea to
expand the field of healthy family practice to cover all aspects of life. Include
habits like washing your hands. brushing your teeth and wearing a helmet,
As children get older, it can be
difficult for them to reverse the habits they have already acquired. So don't
waste the second anymore and start working with your children on healthy
habits. They will quickly learn good habits and practices throughout life.
Take a look at this presentation
and you will find 20 ideas for working at the family level. Thank each other
for the work you are already doing and write down suggestions for improvements
you want to tackle together.
1. Make the bed
This simple task is often
overlooked, but it is a great habit to follow. A freshly made bed helps you and
your children positively start the day. Also, at the end of a long day, you
will find your room relaxing and orderly.
Write down on a chart how often
each member of your family makes their bed so that everyone can see it. To have
fun while getting into the habit, organize races or competitions to see who
makes their bed the fastest. Show your children how well you have made your own
bed as it will help them understand how important this daily routine is to you.
2. Wash your hands
Washing your hands is perhaps the
most important habit for health. Washing your hands after using the bathroom,
and before every meal, keeps germs under control. For this reason, it is
important to show your family how important hand washing is to maintaining
health.
Parents should remind their
children to wash their hands frequently throughout the day. Young children who
cannot yet wash their hands may need a stool to reach the faucet. Show your
children how to properly wash their hands by rubbing them with soap and rinsing
them with warm water for at least 20 seconds. Germs can spread from one person
to another and cause illness. Teaching this important habit can help stop the
transmission of germs that are harmful to health, contributing to the health of
families and communities.
3. Eat a healthy breakfast every day
Your family can healthily start each
day by always eating breakfast. Breakfast is often the first thing we sacrifice
when a busy day awaits us. Adopt a firm attitude that encourages healthy
habits, making sure your family eats breakfast every day.
This is one of the best ways to
combat overeating for the rest of the day. Breakfast has a satiating effect
first thing in the day and provides constant energy until lunchtime. For quick
ideas to get into the breakfast habit, try boiling hard-boiled eggs, chop up a
piece of fruit, or slather whole-wheat toast with nut butter.
4. Brush your teeth
Young children have a hard time
not forgetting to brush their teeth twice a day. But this habit is critical to
maintaining good dental health.
This is because brushing your
teeth removes deposits of plaque and bacteria. By preventing the build-up of
plaque and bacteria on your teeth, you will help maintain your oral health.
So, get in the habit of brushing
your teeth twice a day to keep your teeth and gums in shape. The recommended
duration for each dental cleaning session is two minutes. Try setting a timer
in the bathroom to help your children meet the recommended two minutes. You can
also sing a song or play music to make brushing more fun for everyone.
5. Fix the house
Keeping your living space clean
and tidy is a healthy habit that your whole family can participate in. Spending
time at home is always more enjoyable when all your belongings are in place.
Additionally, a clean home can help shift your focus from clutter to your loved
ones and healthier life.
Teach your little ones where to
store their toys, books, clothes, and shoes. Help children get into the habit
of returning things when they have finished using them. healthy. r el twice a
deficit when going healthy what if them Cleaning the home is also an excellent
way to instill responsibility and respect for belongings.
They can tidy up the house as a
team, using a timer and cleaning for 10 minutes. Compete to see how quickly you
can get your house in order. Give each child a different task each day so they
can learn to sweep, clean, and dust. They will appreciate it when they live
alone and know how to keep their houses clean.
6. Turn off the TV
The TV can take up a lot of your
family's free time. Television sessions can be relaxing in moderation, but if
they last too long they can stall your productivity. It's hard to be active and
work towards a healthier life when the TV is on.
So limit your time in front of
the television to one hour a day. Turn off the TV and find better ways to
entertain the family. Board games are just as fun and involve all members of
the family. In addition, they help children develop rational and
problem-solving skills. Set a good example for your children by inviting them
to play with you when your daily TV time is over.
It is even likely that you will
notice an improvement in your sleep hours by reducing the hours of television.
Plus, spending time without looking at screens allows your eyes to relax,
reduces your exposure to blue light, and helps you fall asleep more easily.
7. Move
If the idea is to relax and play
as a family, physical exercise is good in both cases. Regular exercise is a
great teamwork habit. Infusing your children with a love of sports during their
youth can keep them looking after their fitness for the rest of their lives.
The movements don't have to be
complicated to benefit from regular exercise. They can consist of dancing to
your favorite songs or going to a basketball game on the street. When the whole
family is active, it is possible to spend time together and at the same time
get fit.
Aim for 30 minutes of physical
activity each day. If your schedule is very busy, you can take the opportunity
to exercise while walking to school or while cycling to work. Brainstorm ideas
with your family to help you adopt daily exercise habits.
8. Search for adventures together
Families that play as a team stay
healthy as a team. Taking part in adventures that are right for your family can
make exercise a unifying experience for you and your loved ones.
Recreation in nature is a fun way
to see local landscapes and spend time with the family. Hiking, biking,
fishing, and rock climbing are some of the outdoor adventures your family can
embark on.
9. Wear protective equipment
Safety is part of healthy
exercise habits. Show that you know how to play safely by wearing protective
gear when necessary. If your children see you put on your bike gear, they will
want to do the same.
Get into the habit of donning
your helmet, shin guards, and elbow pads before riding your bike. It will
prevent possible injury to you and teach your children how to stay safe.
10. Always protect yourself from the sun
Sunscreen is the best way to
protect your skin from sun damage. Both children and adults need to apply
sunscreen before going outside to play. Make sunscreen application common.
Teach your children how to put on
sunscreen themselves. You can find child-appropriate mineral-based sunscreens
that are gentle on their delicate skin. Remind each other to reapply the
sunscreen every two hours while outdoors. And also get used to wearing a hat to
protect yourself from the sun.
11. Feeding on the rainbow
Healthy eating is an excellent
habit for the whole family to follow. If you eat together often, begin to focus
on healthy food as a team.
Looking at the color of food is a
great way to ensure your family is getting the nutrients it needs. Whole foods
are vibrant. Deep red, deep purple, and deep green make food interesting to
look at and good for you.
The color of fruits and
vegetables indicates the kind of vitamins that they can contribute to your
diet. Yellow foods are excellent sources of vitamin C. Vitamins A and E live in
red and orange foods. Green foods are full of calcium, iron, and other
important phytonutrients.
Work together to sit down to dinner
with many different colors on the table. A salad of mixed leaves, tomatoes,
avocado, red onion, yellow bell peppers, and cucumbers contains many colors on
the spectrum and is also nutritious.
12. Drink water instead of carbonated drinks
This is an excellent, simple
healthy habit to start out with. Healthy options are accessible and easy to
understand for adults and children.
You already know that carbonated
and sugary drinks damage your teeth and your diet. Therefore, your family
should switch to water (or milk in the case of children). To help build this
habit, keep fizzy drinks away from home. When eating out, ask for water with
your meal (or milk for the children). Show your children that you are serious
by avoiding carbonated drinks altogether and providing healthier alternatives
that contribute to children's growth.
13. Try new foods
If your family's reference foods
are starting to get out of date, try expanding your options. It is difficult to
maintain a healthy diet when you are constantly eating the same foods. It gets
boring. Fortunately, there are many ways to vary your diet and to maintain an
interest in a healthy diet.
Adding spices to your food will
dramatically change its flavor, without altering its health benefits. Garlic,
cumin, pepper, or paprika add some spice to vegetables like sweet potatoes.
Turmeric, parsley, or coriander enhance the flavor of brown rice.
You can also try preparing your
favorite dishes in different ways. For example, oatmeal is a great option for
breakfast. But during the hottest months, you may not feel like having a bowl
of hot oatmeal. Instead of swapping healthy oatmeal for a donut or cake, try
soaked oatmeal.
To make soaked oatmeal, mix a
handful of rolled oats with yogurt, milk, chia seeds, and a few drops of honey.
Let the mixture sit within the refrigerator overnight. At breakfast time, you
will have a fresher option. You can even cut up banana or blackberry pieces and
add them to your oatmeal parfait.
14. Plan and prepare your dishes as a team
When your family has meals on
schedule, you are more likely to eat a healthy diet. There are busy days and
unforeseen events, but don't let comfort destroy your healthy eating habits.
Try preparing your food ahead of time so you have a quick and healthy option on
hand.
Children can help by choosing the
dishes they want to eat for dinner. Encourage them to think of dishes that
include lean protein, vegetables, and whole grains. Write down your dinner plan
on a calendar visible to everyone. That way, everyone will know what food they will
enjoy each day.
The family can also prepare food.
Cooking protein in large quantities is a great way to speed up the
dinner-making process. Your children will love being included in the kitchen.
Show them how vegetables are washed and how proteins such as chicken or fish
are seasoned. They will appreciate the responsibility of helping prepare dinner
and will enjoy their food even more.
15. Learn to read nutrition labels
Understanding what food labels
say can be tricky, so sit down with your family and try to figure them out
together. When you learn to read the nutrition facts for your favorite snacks,
it becomes easier to choose healthy options.
Take for example a box of cereal
for breakfast. The calorie content is usually found at the top of the label,
indicating how many calories (energy currency) are in each serving. Keep in
mind that one serving does not always equal a huge bowl. Show your children how
many bowls of cereal are in a serving using a measuring cup or kitchen scale.
The macronutrients shown under
the calorie information indicate how many carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are
in the foods you eat. Analyze how many of those carbohydrates come from added
sugars, and stay away from products with large amounts of added sugar.
Fats are usually divided into
different types. Some foods contain saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and trans
fat. Check the label and see what fats you find. Avoid foods with trans fat and
monitor your intake of saturated fat.
Protein can be found across the
entire nutritional spectrum. Turkey, chicken, lean red meat, eggs, flax seeds,
chia seeds, and walnuts are excellent sources of protein. Show your family the
way to find the quantity of protein in each serving of packaged food. Challenge
yourself to eat foods with at least six grams of protein per serving.
The added vitamins and minerals,
as well as the ingredient list, are at the bottom of the nutrition label.
Nutrients like iron, zinc, and folic acid are added to help meet the recommended
daily allowances.
When you look at the ingredients,
look at the ones at the top of the list. Those that are higher in the list of
ingredients are those that have the greatest presence in the product. In foods
like bread, cereal bars, or pasta, make sure whole grains are at the top of the
list. Lots of whole grains will keep you satiated for longer.
16. Practice money awareness
Children should not be in charge
of your checkbook, but they can play an important role in your family's
finances. Helping your children have a healthy relationship with money is one
of the best life lessons you can teach them. Get them used to monitor their
spending and help them recognize the importance of saving.
Show your children how to create
a simple budget for the needs of your home. Let them see where the money comes
from and what your family is spending it on. You can ask them to read the bills
your family receives each month and to keep track of the grocery receipts. Your
children will be proud to help out and better understand the value of money.
17 sleep well
Bedtime isn't just for kids. As a
family, try to get the recommended eight hours of sleep each night. Going to
bed at a reasonable time will help parents and children do this.
Remind your family (and yourself)
that your body needs a good amount of sleep to be productive the next day. Tell
your family how energized you feel after getting the rest you need. Your
healthy sleep habits can serve as an example for your family if you go to sleep
early and wake up on time.
When you can't sleep, the idea
of getting up to watch TV may be
tempting. If you do it and your kids watch it, they will probably wonder if
they can do it too. Instead of watching movies when you feel restless, try
reading or meditating. It will help calm your mind and put you asleep in no time.
18. Reward with praise
When you notice that your family
members are doing a good job, talk about it. Let your children know that you
acknowledge their effort by praising their healthy behaviors. Words of support
and affirmation reinforce healthy family habits.
Try not to reward healthy
behaviors by “breaking” recently developed habits. Swapping hard work for an
afternoon of bingeing and laziness could end up wasting your efforts.
Instead, acknowledge attempts to
maintain healthy habits by praising them. Tell your children that you are proud
of them for making their health a priority. And encourage them to keep working
just as well.
19. Practice what you preach with parenting role models
Establishing healthy habits in
the family requires a joint effort. When your children see that you are
changing, they will likely want to follow your example, too. You can't expect
children to strive for healthy habits if you don't do your part.
Permit your children to correct
their actions in a respectful way. If they propose to leave the sofa to go for
a walk with them, put on your shoes and go outside. If they remind you that you
haven't made your bed, go make it.
Leading your family when it comes to healthy habits requires your participation. Show your children how much these healthy habits mean to you by practicing them. You will be more successful in reaching your health goals if your whole family works as a team.
20. Play together every day
It is true that the obligations
of each day sometimes do not allow us to enjoy our children and that is a problem that sometimes we realize too late.
We all want to work hard so that
nothing is lacking, but are they not lacking the essential, which is contact
with their parents?
This does not mean leaving your job, but rather than a few minutes should be dedicated to family games and distractions each day.
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