Healthy Family Fun

    As we prepare to enjoy another Thanksgiving Holiday filled with family, friends and plenty of good foods,  why not fit in some healthy family fun? If the weather permits, maybe you can get outdoors for a healthy walk or run in the fresh November air! Bring along a footbal or basketball to your family gathering.

   Why not amke family fitness time a habit you can enjoy together year round?   Set a few goals that you and your family can achieve. Encourage your family to come up with activity ideas  and set goals together. In the first few weeks, you may not achieve every goal, but if you stick with it, physical activity will become a part of your family’s routine.

Tip: Effective goals are specific, achievable and forgiving. "Exercise more" is a great idea, but "take a 30 minute walk" is more specific and easier to achieve.

To keep the momentum going, share your new activities, ideas, and tools with friends, neighbors and relatives. Invite them to join in and get moving too!

To keep the momentum going, share your new activities, ideas, and tools with friends, neighbors and relatives. Invite them to join in and get moving too!

There are countless ways to enjoy physical activity together as a family:

• Play tag, swim, toss a ball, jump rope, hula-hoop, dance to music—or even play a dancing video game. It doesn’t have to be sports, just get your family moving!
• Walk the dog, go for a jog, go on a bike ride, take the stairs, or head to the park and let kids run around for a while.
• Celebrate special occasions—birthdays, anniversaries—with something active, such as a hike, a volleyball or soccer game. Get that frisbee out of the closet for some healthy outdoor fun playing Frisbee in the park.
• Encourage the whole family to get involved in household chores, like cleaning, vacuuming and yard work.
• Park further away when you do your Christmas shopping - or wherever you go . Count the steps with your children it takes from the car to your destination. Write it down. See if you can park even further away on your next stop.
• Walk instead of drive, whenever you can. If you have to drive, find a spot at the far end of the parking lot–the most distant from you are going.
• Volunteer to coach or referee your childrens favorite sport. Encourage them to try new sports.
• Train as a family for a charity walk or run.

Read on for more healthy family tips.