Oneofthechallengesweallfaceishowtokeepourkidsandfamilyeatinghealthy,especiallyforthoseofusalwaysonthego.Herearesometipswehavefoundthatcanmakestayingfitandhealthyfunandconvenient:
- Startthedayright.Whenyouknowyouaregoingtobeonthegoallday,besuretostartwithahealthybreakfast.Avoidsugarycereals.Eggswithanadditionalproteinaregreat.Trycookinguptheingredientsforbreakfastburritosthenightbefore.Thiswayyoucanjustwarmupthetortillasandputthemtogetherfirstthinginthemorning.Ideally,besureeveryonehasatleast20gramsofproteinforbreakfastbeforetheyheadoutthedoor.Theproteinwillhelpfamilymembersfeelfulllongerandavoidmorningsugarspikesandcravings.
- Packhealthysnackstotakewithyou.Keepacoolerinthecarfilledwithbottlesofwater,proteinbars,nuts,carrots,peppersorotherhealthyvegetables.Bringalongsandwichessoyoucanhaveapicniconthego.Familiesgethungry,especiallyrunningfromplacetoplace,somakeitfunandhavepre-madesnackswithyou.Itwillcutdownonfastfoodandsaveyoumoney.
- Don’tover-scheduleyourselforthekids.Itisokaytosay,“Wejustcan’tmakeit.” Toooftenwegetcaughtupintryingtodoeverything.Reducethestressbysayingnotosomeactivitiessoyoucanenjoytheactivitiesthatyoudochoose.
- Haveyourkidshelpwiththecooking.Atfirstyoumayfeelthiswilladdmorestress.Yetcookingwithyourkidsgivesyouagreatopportunitytoteachthemhowtomakehealthysubstitutionstolowerthecaloriesandfatinsomeoftheirfavoritefoods.Tryusingskimmilkinsteadofwholemilk,chickenbrothinsteadofoilandeggwhitesinsteadofwholeeggs.
- Eatuntilyou’resatisfied,notstuffed.Toooftenweovereatbecausewearenotsurewhenthenextmealwillcome.Teachyourkidsaboutportioncontrol.Andenjoythesocialaspectofeatingtogetherwithoutoverindulging.
Following these tips can help make planning and preparing meals and snacks a family activity. Your kids will remember these times together, andthey will learn skills they can use to stay healthy and share with their own families when they grow up.
AbouttheAuthors:HusbandandwifefitnessexpertsDaveandCarrieWoodwardarecreatorsofBodyEvolution.com,aholisticsystemavailablefor$37onlinetohelppeoplemakelifestylechangestoloseweightandkeepitoff.Carrie,40,isanElitemarathonrunnerwhohasrunintheBostonandNewYorkmarathons.AsagroupexerciseinstructorsheteacheseverythingfromYogatokickboxing,stepcardio,spinningclassesandahostofothers.SheholdsadegreeinExerciseScienceandHealthPromotion.Davehasamaster'sdegreeinExercisePhysiology.Hecompletedhismaster'sthesisonhydrostaticweighingandbodycomposition,minoredinpsychologyandlovestoteach.Hehastaughteverythingfromcollegelevelcoursesinanatomyandphysiologytoworkingwithyouthfootballandsoccerteamsteachingthefundamentalsofthesportsandtheimportanceofsportsmanship.Aself-described"adrenalinejunkie"Daveenjoysskydiving,scubadiving,rockclimbingandanythingfastorexhilarating.DaveandCarriearetheparentsoffourboysandliveinSouthernCalifornia.Learnmoreatwww.BodyEvolution.com.Contactthematdwoodward@gspLLC.net.
