Leading a healthy lifestyle is very important for adults as it is for children. The fast-paced world we live in sometimes makes it impossible for us to maintain a healthy body and mind. But, you can always start easy like changing your diet and starting to exercise. Remember that adults are role models to children, and if you want a healthy lifestyle for the whole family, you need to start with yourself.

Below are 5 ways how you can improve your lifestyle for the better for the whole family.

Healthy eating habits

Promote healthy eating habits at home since children are more likely to develop eating behaviors when they’re given a choice of healthy foods at home. Make a shopping list of healthy foods and ask your children to join, and later prepare the food together. Parents need to encourage their children to eat healthily.

Involve all 5 food groups on the plate, and let your child choose what they like. Remember that toddler nutrition is extremely important for better growth and development. Children tend to be picky eaters, so being creative and introducing new food is always a good idea. Always add important nutrients to every meal, and try to pay attention to the meal portions.

Eliminate or minimize sugar

Food and beverages full of sugar are never a good idea. Although everyone loves sweet things, they’re not good for our overall health. Especially not good for children, since that’s the time when they grow and develop, and need good nutrition to maintain good health. Sugary drinks and sweets are only empty calories we tend to love but are harmful to our health.

Try to avoid processed food with added sugar and solid fats like cakes, cookies, soda, fruit drinks, and many more. Instead, turn to fruits and veggies, and encourage your children to do the same. Let your child participate in making smoothies and fruit snacks, so it will be more fun for them. Fun activities at home are also part of a healthy lifestyle for the whole family.

Be active

Staying fit while eating healthy is the best thing you can do for your body and mind. Research has shown that exercise improves our mental health including improved sleep, reduced stress, increased energy, etc. Exercising doesn’t always have to be connected with losing weight, it helps improve our health in all aspects.

Teaching your kids from a young age that exercise is good, can be quite helpful for them in the future. Building healthy habits early on can improve their development and growth. Make physical activities fun and encourage all family members to participate. This is also a great way to bond with your children.

Get enough sleep

Today’s lifestyle has led people to be sleep-deprived; either we spend too many hours working, watching TV, or simply staying up late, the result is not getting enough sleep and harming our health. The first step is realizing that the same patterns that lead to extra exhaustion and sleep deprivation are not good for us, and try to change them step-by-step. Note that sleep is also an essential element of success for children, so aim for an early bedtime and a good routine.

Make a good schedule by starting the day early and have an active day so you can fall asleep easily. Doing nothing all day and eating whenever we want can only backfire. Also, people who tend to sit all day due to their working environment are required to gain weight and disrupt their sleeping habits.

Reduce screen time

Reducing screen time is not easy for anyone. We’re used to staying up late watching movies and TV shows, being glued to our smartphones, and spending too much time on our computers either due to work or entertainment. Reducing screen time at the dinner table can be quite helpful for you and your kids.

Also, encourage the whole family to spend less time on their phone before bed. This will improve sleep and overall health. Being more mindful of the environment and enjoying activities that don’t involve screens is extremely important. Teach your kids to do the same, and it just might help them keep this up in the future.

Final thoughts

Overall health for the entire family can be quite a challenge depending on your children’s age. Note that teenagers are a bit difficult to persuade in changing their habits, especially reducing screen time. Just remember, no matter the rebellion what’s important is their health. Turn the tables by being a role model to look up to, and it just might change their minds. Promoting a healthy lifestyle has no downsides, only benefits.