Keeping your family healthy can be tricky, whether there are three of you or thirteen. But however large or small your family might be, the tactics for staying healthy are the same. With the right combination of exercise, a balanced diet and fun, you could help your family ward off pesky colds and stay fit all year round.
The first – and often the simplest – aspect to change in your family life is your diet. Perhaps you’ve noticed your children or partner becoming more lethargic, or more susceptible to colds and coughs. If so, it may have something to do with what they’re eating. Take a long hard look at your family’s typical diet: keep a journal for a week of what all of you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you notice a high intake of processed foods, fatty snacks and takeaways, you’ve probably uncovered part of the problem.
Take action by ensuring that your family gets their 5 portions of fruit and veg a day. This is easier than it sounds: by simply having a piece of fruit at breakfast, after lunch and as a mid-afternoon snack, you’ve already fit in three portions. Add to that one portion of veg with lunch and two at dinner, and you’ve made a real improvement. Replace fried food like chips and fried chicken with healthier options, such as sweet potato wedges baked in the oven and grilled chicken. And instead of chocolate and fizzy drinks, encourage your family to eat some nuts, dried fruit and low-sugar juice instead.
Diet, however, isn’t the only change you’ll need to make to keep your family healthy. Regular exercise is known to have significant effects not only on weight, but on energy levels, your mood and your chances of contracting heart disease in future. There are easy ways to get children interested in exercise: for instance, taking the dog for a brisk walk, playing Frisbee in the park or simply running around the garden with their friends. Indeed, it’s relatively easy to fit in half an hour of exercise in the evenings, and even walking to and from school can contribute.
But even if you make these significant changes, many experts recommend that families make regular trips to the doctor, dentist and optician. These can sometimes incur a cost, and some families take out private health insurance to cover this. However, every family has different ways to stay healthy and it’s vital that you figure out what works best for you and your family’s lifestyle. Most importantly, you must remember to stay happy. If your new healthy regime is making you miserable, the results may be short-lived – so don’t be afraid to tweak things around so you’re healthy and happy at the same time.
The author of this article is a part of a digital marketing agency that works with brands like Bupa. The views and opinions expressed within this article belong to the writer and any reference or summary of Bupa Health Information Factsheets is that of the writers and does not represent Bupa or the information contained within the Bupa website. The contents of this article are of a general nature only and do not constitute specific advice. This article does not take into account your circumstances or needs and must not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice.
