Today’s children are very much like the kids of yesteryear. They would choose candy over cantaloupe and pizza over snap peas any day. Kids don’t change in this regard. However, children today do carry some marked differences. For one, the childhood obesity epidemic is at an all time high and our children are heavier than ever. As a parent or educator, it is scary to watch your children grow and grow and know what that means for their health. It is important that we all do our job to learn how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle.

There are two main components to a healthy lifestyle and we know those are diet and fitness. Children have to eat better and move more to fight the weight that today’s day is pushing on them. When asked about how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle I think it’s important to realize that children are not grownups and although we want to lead them to make the correct choices, until they are able to make them on their own, it is our jobs to make those decisions for them.

Children are only able to eat what we provide them with until a certain age. It is vital that during this period we provide them with healthy and nutritious foods. If parents eat fast food too much, kids will eat fast food too much. If parents reward and spoil their children with food, their children will begin depending on food for emotional reasons at an early age. In wondering how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle parents must recognize their role and take control of the reins.

Cooking with the family can be a great way to change eating habits. Give children a few recipes to choose from and let them lend a hand in the kitchen. Learning how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle may cause you to change some habits as well. The overall health of the family depends on your example and home cooked meals are a rewarding way to get started.

One of the hardest parts of recognizing how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle is getting them more active. Just like when you say “eat it, it’s good for you”, children will resist anything you call exercise, particularly if they are unfit. Finding activities that can be fun for the entire family makes fitness an activity rather than a chore. How about exploring trails at a local park or hiking near a lake or river? Take the kids to a museum or to the mall for “wish” shopping. The point is to keep them moving. Frisbee or catch outside is a great workout and provides some bonding time as well.

If the television or video games are to blame for some inactivity, limit them! More than likely the kids will not be pleased with this but blame it on conserving energy (electric bills are no joke right now) rather than telling them it’s an effort to get them off their rear ends.

Knowing how to get children to live a healthy lifestyle and actually putting it into practice are two different things. Just like it takes motivation and dedication to get yourself fit, keeping your kids healthy takes work as well. However, when the health of your child is in question, the decision should be easy.

Do you have a pair of jeans that fit in high school? Stashed away in hopes one day you will be able to wear them again? Ignoring the fact that they have zippered pockets and Cargo tool-loops, you aspire to shimmy your way into them and party like it’s 1999. As we get older, we definitely get more comfortable. If we found a spouse and a decent career, we figure we no longer have any reason to look like a fitness star. You might spend your entire weekend on the couch, watching football, eating lil smokies, and drinking beer. But, let a child come into your life and you will realize just how much this comfort level has affected your life.

Chasing a toddler around should not make you winded. They do move fast, but they have awfully short legs! Candy Land should NOT make you hungry. If you need a nap after ring-around-the-rosies, you might want to consider your waistline as the culprit.
 
Just as children can bring your attention to your couch potato behaviors, they can also motivate you to do something about it. Think about it: how many times do we encourage kids eat their vegetables but reach for chips ourselves? Can you remember the last time you told the kids to “go play!” as you sat in front of the television, distracted or even aggravated by their noise?

The bottom line is: Your children deserve healthy parents. Whether or not you realize it, you deserve it too! Making a lifestyle change can be difficult; that’s no lie. But when you consider the alternative, missing out on a good portion of your kids’ childhood, it’s a no-brainer.

The trick is to ease into it. Don’t expect to be back in those jeans in a month, and don’t let those jeans become your only goal. Do it for your health, your future, and your child and the weight will fall off. Do it solely for your weight and you may become discouraged when it takes too long or complacent once the goal is reached.

Finding your way through the maze of at home fitness routines and nutrition programs can be dizzying. It doesn’t have to be. With the right dedication, nearly any program is better than none. Choosing one that is easier to stick with and follows through on it’s promises of big results can only help. P90X, 10 Minute Trainer, and Turbo Jam are just a few of those top of the line fitness programs that will have you back in those jeans and totally kicking butt when it’s time to play tag!

Adults aren’t the only ones who are suffering from the obesity epidemic. All you have to do is look around a playground to see that kids are falling victim to it as well. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children the importance of fitness and nutrition. While schools can certainly play a role in education, they can’t be expected to raise our kids. Parents have to take the time and initiative to show children that being healthy is not only necessary, but can be fun. Taking time for family fitness is a great way of doing this.
 
Children associate the word exercise with sweat and panting. They rarely, unless they are already fit, look forward to physical exercise. Similar to forcing a child to eat brussel sprouts, forcing a child to go for a jog often backfires and winds up increasing their resentment. What if exercise was made a family effort though? If you could incorporate family fitness into your household it would not only serve the inactive child, but also create a great environment for quality time.
 
Family fitness does not have to be focused on the exercise, but rather the family-time. A game of flag football in the backyard or a group bike ride through the neighborhood is a great way to get your family active. Weekend hikes at local parks and a game of Frisbee after dinner are also good ways of getting some quality family fitness in with little effort.

By seemingly taking the focus off of the work and putting it on the fun, you are able to get the whole family involved in a family fitness program without as much effort. As the weather changes, there will be less opportunities for outdoor activities and you will have to become more creative in your efforts. While a basketball game at the local gym is a great idea, you may want to try something like Hip Hop Abs, or Shaun T’s Fit Kids Club for the younger members of your family.

Choosing a fitness DVD to present to your family can be a bit more of a challenge because there is no mistaking: it is exercise. However, if you choose workouts with lots of music and fun, your kids are more likely to enjoy it. Also, make sure that the entire family is involved. A child will quickly lose interest if they feel like they are getting tricked into exercise. Imagine the laughs when the kids watch Dad getting down to Hip Hop Abs!

Exercise is a great way for families to stay fit. It also provides an excellent opportunity for quality family time in a busy, busy world. Making time for a family fitness program can benefit the health of you, your children, spouse and the health of your home.