Healthy habits are important for a family’s well-being. Sometimes it can be hard for people to develop healthy habits on their own, especially children, so working as a family can make it easier. From meal planning, to family outings, to praying together, working together is the best way to accomplish healthy living. Here are five tips to teach healthy habits to your family.
Lead by example
Leading by example is probably the best way to teach your family healthy habits, especially young children. Young children learn the most through observation and imitation. Even if they imitate your healthy habits for fun, the habits will eventually be imprinted on them and they will continue these healthy habits well into adulthood. Even the most rebellious teenagers may quietly begin to follow your healthy habits. That means being able to eat your vegetables and avoid overly fatty or sugary foods, visiting the doctor regularly (that means if you don’t have health care, you’ll have to look into other options such as direct primary care), and exercising often.
Promote healthy eating in your home
Healthy eating can encourage other healthy habits. Eating healthy is a great way to improve mood, self-esteem, and overall happiness. Not only will your family value their health more (which will be great because they are eating healthy foods) but they will value improving themselves in other areas such as education, career, social and economic status, etc. Meal planning is a great way to accomplish this goal.
Place positive affirmations around your home
Positive affirmations are a good way to constantly promote healthy living and a positive mental state. While studies have shown that saying them to yourself may not be as helpful, studies have shown that writing positive affirmations about what you value most can be a very big help. You can have each member of your family write an affirmation or prayer that they value and you can post it on the wall. You can even make them decorative by putting them in a frame or using the decorative vinyl stickable wall letters.
Plan positive and healthy family outings
Obese children are becoming an epidemic in the United States and its because they are as physically active as they used to be. Help your children put down the video game controllers and plan fun, active family outings. Trips to the beach, the park, or a bowling alley are great examples. Children will not only have fun, but they will be active and learn the value of positive family interaction. Being a part of positive family interaction encourages positive growth, self-image, and self-worth that will lead to them making positive and healthy choices for themselves in the future.
Keep a positive outlook on life and have faith that everything in life will be good
Thinking positive is one of the best ways to encourage positive behavior. This type of thinking will become contagious throughout your family. Before you know it, your spouse and your children will share your faith about the future. Stay positive, pray together and support one another. Healthy choices will become automatic as your family thinks positively.
