Viewing articles

Getting Serious About Healthy Changes

Written on March 01, 2008

I'm sure by now you have all heard about the new show, "Honey, We're Killing Our Kids." The show started in the UK and has found its way over to the US. Basically, the show focuses on a family that is leading a very unhealthy lifestyle and urges the parents to make some serious changes. During the course of the show they take a current photo of the children and through enhanced imaging, they show what the kids will look like in 20 years if they don't change they're lifestyle. Dramatic? Pretty much, but the parents respond with horror and both agree, "Honey, we're killing our kids!"

The idea of the show initially intrigued me but as I learned more by watching bits and pieces, I came to realize just how out of hand things have become with regards to families and healthy lifestyles. Of course television always adds more drama to increase viewership, but the truth remains that our kids do not eat well and often times it is a direct result of parents poor habits and lack of knowledge as far as what needs to change and where to begin.

As I watched this show, I was struck by how out of shape and unhealthy the parents were. It almost seems like they're saying, "O.K. parents, you're beyond hope, but your kids, well you can make a difference for them." Yes, I understand that the idea of the show is to get the whole family healthy so that everyone benefits, but in order to be a positive role model for kids teaching them what is realistic, we have to understand our role as parents. For anyone looking to make lifestyle changes, the approach has to make sense and has to be something that is realistic.

Sure, on TV they make the change look like it happens overnight, not quite. Anyone will change for TV, but I'd love to see some kind of mandatory follow-up from the television station so that these families have a better chance of maintaining their healthy changes. You see, it's much like dieting, if you don't have the motivation or support to make it a permanent part of your lifestyle, it will never work. Diets can be short lived if people aren't able to transfer the changes they've made in to lifelong habits.

So what to do? Well, it begins with standing back and taking a long, hard look at where you as the parent are right now. Are you active? Do you eat well most of the time? Do you often express the value of health and encourage family members to do the same? Well, based on statistics, the answer is probably no. Does that mean it's over? Have you ruined your family? Have you fallen down on an important responsibility? Perhaps, but all of these lifestyle challenges are new. When we were growing up, exercise and nutrition just wasn't an issue because many of us ate better and were naturally more active. It is never too late to learn what you can do to become healthier and then teach your family. Actually, showing your kids that you're never too old to change bad habits is a great thing!

Following are some suggestion on ways that you can gradually change things within your family that focus on reasonable versus radical. Remember, it takes time and consistency for things to stick, so let's take a look at some suggestions that can get help you and your family to start on a healthy track!

Start by taking a look at what your family eats:

• If you pick up fast food, rather than allowing each child to get French fries, get one large and let them split it. Eventually, you will say no to fries, but it's a starting point. Order a salad that everyone can share or fruit.
• If time is of the essence and you don't want to pick up fast food again, low sodium soup and sandwiches will work. Or sandwiches with fresh fruit and veggies. You can select low-fat chips if they're used to eating chips. I suggest the "Natural" chips and Doritos by Frito Lay, www.fritolay.com. Also, some stores have their own "house" brand of natural chips that are awesome, so experiment!
• If you're looking to cut fat from your home cooked meals, there is a great product that can change the way your family eats. It's a product called Z-Trim and basically works as a fat replacement but best of all? It doesn't at all change the flavor of the food yet it cuts out half the fat. My prediction is eventually, many of our favorite prepared foods will contain Z-Trim thereby making the foods healthier for everyone, cool, eh? You can learn more by visiting, www.ztrim.com

Find ways to get your family active!

• Pedometers are a great way to keep your family moving while making it fun! Set a goal each week for the number of steps you take. At the end of the week, the winner receives something special, perhaps a new CD or exercise shirt or something fun that would be exciting enough to warrant a winner. You can even start a cash pot and make it a monthly thing and the winner gets the cash pot if they have the most accumulated steps! Visit www.pedometersusa.com for the best selection of pedometers.
• Have a family fitness night and allow each family member to choose the activity for that week. It's a great way to bring your family together and learn how to make exercise fun! If they learn to love being active now, you can bet they'll be active later!

Teaching your kids about the value of healthy living is so important but it's never too late to start. Every positive change you make is an opportunity for your children to discover an alternative to poor nutrition and inactivity. As our country becomes more conditioned to unhealthy choices, you can change their outlook by becoming the role model that your kids need for a healthy future!