Getting your family on board with developing healthy habits may be challenging, but it will pay off in the end! Your kids will look up to you and respect you more when they see you making an effort to improve your family’s health and fitness. To make things easier for you, we’ve created a list of six health and fitness challenges in which the whole family can participate.
Go for a Daily Walk or Run
A great way to start your fitness journey is to take a daily walk or run. Not only is this a great way to get some exercise, but it’s also a great way to bond as a family. You can make it even more fun by turning it into a scavenger hunt or a game of tag.
Walking and running help improve your cardiovascular health, tone your muscles, and improve your overall fitness. They’re also low-impact exercises, which means they’re gentle on your joints. If you still need to get used to exercising, start with a ten-minute walk and work your way up.
Being outdoors gives you access to fresh air. In addition to cleansing your lungs, fresh air can raise your spirits, lower pulses, add vigor, and even aid digestion. This is done by supplying more oxygen which helps you break down food more efficiently. This will be of assistance if you are looking to drop some pounds.
Do a 30-Day Fitness Challenge
There are tons of 30-day fitness challenges out there that the whole family can do together. Whether doing 100 sit-ups or going for a 20-minute walk every day, setting a goal and sticking to it is a great way to improve your health and fitness as a family.
You can experiment by doing different challenges every month to keep things interesting. You can also make it a competition to see who can complete the challenge with the best results. You can set it to where the loser has to do a chore for the winner or something else that everyone will find fair, like making a healthy snack for the family. Just make the goal clear: a healthy and fit family by the end of the month!
Cut Out Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks are one of the worst offenders regarding unhealthy diets. If you want to cut down on sugar, start by cutting out sugary drinks like soda and juice. You can also try replacing them with healthier alternatives like water or unsweetened tea.
If your kitchen pantry is full of sugary drinks, eliminate them! Out of sight, out of mind. If they’re not there, you won’t be tempted to drink them. You can also try making fruit-infused water or tea to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals without sugar. Remember that sugary drinks are empty calories that can lead to weight gain, tooth decay, and other health problems.
Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is essential for good health, but getting your kids to eat their greens can be tough. A great way to get everyone on board is to have each family member pick their favorite fruit or vegetable and make meals around that ingredient. For example, if someone picks apples, you could make apple crisp or apple pie for dessert.
If someone in the family is a picky eater, try making smoothies or juices. You can sneak many fruits and vegetables into a smoothie without anyone realizing it! Make sure to use unsweetened fruit juice or water as your base to avoid adding unnecessary sugar.
Make Doctor’s Appointments a Family Affair
Everyone knows that going to the doctor is important, yet getting everyone to go on their own can be tough. A great way to ensure everyone gets the care they need is to make doctor’s appointments a family affair. You can all go together for your yearly physicals or schedule separate appointments on the same day.
Dental health is also important to ensure that your family is practicing good dental hygiene habits and no one is taking any shortcuts. If anyone needs dental implant surgery, make sure it is covered by insurance to ensure the procedure is affordable and within your budget. It is also important that the whole family supports them through the process.
Have Family Game Night—with Physical Games
Family game night is always a blast, but you want to make it even more fun (and active). Ditch the traditional board games in favor of physical games like charades or Twister. This way, everyone gets up and moving while still having fun as a group.
Physical games help to promote good physical health and can even help to improve coordination. Furthermore, games allow children to nurture social skills such as following rules, taking turns, and being graceful when winning or losing. Also, family game nights provide an opportunity for children to not only bond with immediate family members but also create lasting relationships with peers. Establishing a fun routine through gaming can help promote tradition within a family setting.
There are tons of great ways for families to improve their health and fitness together. By incorporating some (or all!) of these challenges into your routine, you’ll be on your way to becoming a healthier, happier family in no time.