The Joy Of Eating Healthy As A Family

One thing I know to be true about life can be summed up in one word: EVOLUTION. Sure, I can look back ten years and see how my life is so far from what it used to be that it almost seems scary, but we don’t have to go that far to see transformation.

I know you’ve heard me say time after time again how we only look back to see how far we’ve come, so today, I want to share a bit about my family’s health journey because it’s a big part of what makes us strong as a family, not only physically and mentally, but also emotionally. Believe it or not, by making empowering health decisions together, we have grown closer and have improved our sense of teamwork. Plus, I personally believe that when you’re enjoying great health and great energy levels, your mood and your ability to connect grows exponentially.

I read on the American Heart Association’s website “at the heart of good health is good nutrition,” so healthy eating is one of the areas in which we’ve completely transformed over the years.

It’s interesting to see that we find ourselves telling our stories to assure our friends and acquaintances understand that being healthy is a journey, not a destination. The way we eat now is simply an evolved way of how we ate a month ago, or even a week ago. It rarely happens overnight.

However, like every journey, it is walked step by step, and you can definitely choose to be happy and excited, because with each step, you are making progress toward a more empowering and enjoyable life. And what I love the most, because I’m all about legacy, is the ripple effect that naturally occurs as we make positive changes: we affect our kids’ lives, they affect their peers’ lives (and sometimes their parents’), they will all have kids eventually, and the chain goes on.

One thing that can ease the process of making a change that may seem scary is to understand that we are all on the same journey, and we’re all terrified about what’s next! You are not alone!

Here are some of the easiest changes that I have found to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and a healthy family life:

~ Clean up your pantry! I don’t like throwing out food, but as I have reframed what food means to me, it’s easier to throw away those items that don’t contribute to my health.

~ Find easy, healthy recipes your family loves. Do research with your family to find ONLY healthy recipes and choose, by process of elimination, which recipes sound good to try. Involving the kids is going to help them feel excited to eat what you cook, and by choosing something healthy, you’ll be more excited to cook. I used to completely hate cooking, and now I deeply love it, and almost consider it therapeutic, so I know your cooking experience can change!

~ Sit down with your family and create a meal plan that makes sense, by outlining what you’ll eat in a week or two-week period. Which recipes are doable on weekdays, weekends, for dinner, breakfast, or lunch? Which go together? Predictability dilutes the change a bit, because it becomes the new normal.

~ Use your meal plan to write up the ingredients you will need and make up a grocery list you will stick to. This will help you know which aisles you will visit and which ones you can skip. It can feel hard, but you can do it!!! Remember that if you don’t have it in your pantry or your fridge, it is easier to not eat it. Some pointers I can attest to are:

• Use a healthy oil when needed for cooking. The American Heart Association has a great article about what oils you can use in your meals.

• Read labels when you shop. Compare labels and select options with lower amounts of sodium, saturated fats, and added sugars.
• Avoid sugary drinks, like sodas, and replace with water and fruits you can snack on.

• I use very little salt when I cook. Instead, I use spices to make my recipes more flavorful. I’ve noticed that fresh rosemary does wonders in soups and I don’t add salt anymore.

• Add lots of veggies and fruits to your grocery list for a healthier diet for you and your family. You can make smoothies, eat them raw, and add them to each and every one of your recipes.

~ Of course, we don’t always cook at home, so when you eat out, ask for healthy substitutes the restaurant has available. I am in awe of how many waiters and waitresses everywhere go above and beyond to help you with your nutrition and health goals. Don’t be shy – give them the opportunity to help you!

As you make these decisions as a family, the key is letting your family know why you want the whole family to make healthy food choices. It’s easy to say “Because I said so,” but I know that to be the most ineffective way to get someone on board with your ideas.

If you focus on what each member of your family wants and how each will benefit, it will stop feeling like torture (and I speak from childhood experience), and it will become a beautiful memory, because each of you will feel supported, and isn’t that what having a positive family is all about? I know you agree because you’re amazing!

And speaking of amazing moms, I’ve been connecting with other health conscious moms at the Moms Unite Facebook group, a safe place to share and find healthy hacks and inspiration for each day, and a space to celebrate  our best moments in our journey towards better living. See you there?

For additional resources to help inspire us and to provide ideas for incorporating better healthy choices into our daily routines, visit the American Heart Association’s Healthy Living page or visit their Pinterest page.

What changes have you made that have made your family healthier? My family is my reason to live a healthier, longer life. You can visit LIFEisWhy.org and share your very own reason, too! And let’s learn from each other in the comments below!

[ela]