Great Ways To Teach Your Kids A Healthy Lifestyle

This blog post is written by guest writer, Zara Lewis.

In today’s world, it’s not easy raising a family. We all live on the go, and don’t have enough time to take proper care of ourselves. That kind of lifestyle often poses a bad influence on our kids. Our kids are tempted by junk food and spend their free time glued to various screens that surround them, instead of doing the things we did when we were little: riding bikes, climbing trees, playing outside all day. When they come home after a hard day at work, a lot of parents feel too drained to devote their attention to the kids. Under such circumstances, it’s no wonder we are dealing with a de facto epidemic of obesity and various related illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension. What is even more alarming is that these troubles don’t plague just adults – our children are affected in great numbers. Here are a few simple ways to turn the situation around.

Use Small Tricks for a Healthy Diet

Food is the obvious place to start, and one that can seem like a large and intimidating step for many moms. However, even if your kids are very picky, or you have very little time to cook proper meals, there are some small tricks that will help you feed your family with tasty and nutritious meals consistently. Always buy fresh, local produce, preferably in season. Off season, instead of buying lower quality produce, it’s better and cheaper to buy frozen. If your kids don’t like veggies – puree them and sneak them into your kid’s favorite foods – they’ll never know the difference. Invest in a crockpot to make delicious meals with minimum effort. You can even combine all the ingredients for one-pot recipes, and freeze them together in Ziploc bags.

Connect with Nature

Exercise is another pillar of a healthy lifestyle. Little ones are usually full of energy, but it’s easily drained by too much screen time. Researchers have long considered too much screen time to be one of the possible causes of ADHD. The solution? Head outside! Go on camping trips, take your kids on picnics, or just grab a ball or Frisbee and head out to the park. Even when it’s raining, try putting on your raincoats and rubber boots, and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised how much your kids will love jumping in the puddles.

Find Alternative Means of Transport

Getting from point A to point B doesn’t have to include the car every single time. Take up walking and cycling, not only as a form of exercise, but also as a way to travel. Your kids will not only get some much-needed physical activity, but you will also save money and your kids will learn how to protect their environment. If you are feeling insecure about being able to cover greater distances, invest in electric bikes, so you have a plan B when you get tired.

Form Good Sleep Habits

Experts agree that adequate sleep is just as important for our health as diet and exercise. When it comes to children, setting up a consistent sleep routine is crucial. If your children are still young, a routine will help them accept and get used to the bedtime you set for them. Give them a warm bath, read a book together, sing a lullaby, kiss them and tuck them in, then turn off the light at approximately the same time every night. Not only will your kids be less irritable, and have better concentration, they will also form healthy sleep habits to last them a lifetime.

Be Positive

Don’t underestimate the power of emotions. Proper emotional development is just as essential as physical wellbeing. Foster a positive atmosphere in your home. Laugh a lot and allow yourself and your kids to be silly. Don’t hold grudges – lead by example and teach your kids forgiveness. Embrace joy, optimism, and positivity. Teach your kids empathy by helping in your community.

With these simple changes, you can take the health of your family into your own hands. A small effort on your part will make all the difference when it comes to boosting your kids’ health, and filling their childhood with great moments and beautiful memories.

Zara Lewis (Twitter: @ZaraELewis) is a mom, fitness & yoga enthusiast and a regular writer for High Style Life. She is devoted to implementing healthy life habits in every aspect of life of her family and friends. She loves to share her parenting tips and is always open to learning some new skills, because she sees her parenthood as going to school forever. She enjoys traveling, hiking, cycling and baking.