How can parents role model good health?

It has been said that regardless of right or wrong a parent’s actions will always be right in the eyes of a child.

Children emulate their parents, being their first role models, transferring physical and mental traits to their children while often remaining unaware of their acquisition.

Thus, a person’s values and belief systems are greatly molded by the parent’s upbringing and examples.

Households also have their distinct customs, for example, a family may be used to eating takeaways or deliveries from fast food places, some families prefer home cooked meals shared with each other, each and every family is unique and with varying tastes.

Healthy living and a conscious effort of making healthy choices also starts within the household, some children eat fruits and vegetables easily and some children just won’t.

It’s all a matter of helping every family member become accustomed to a healthy lifestyle.

So what can be done to influence your family to live healthy?

Start in the kitchen – Serve healthy dishes that can nourish the family’s dietary needs, don’t let the kids grow to be picky eaters. Cook exciting meals with a variety of colours, nutrients and minerals on every plate.
Embrace a proper philosophy in eating – Teach your family to enjoy the food’s flavours and proportions and stick to a schedule for mealtimes and snacks.
Involve them – Bring them to the local produce market and familiarise them with fruits and vegetables. Let them learn how to cook and teach them what healthy ingredients to include in a meal.
A culture of fitness – Have a walk in the park every weekend with the family, let them ride a bike and stroll in the community. Teach every family member the importance of exercise at an early age.
Pantry management – Make sure that healthy foods are the ones mostly placed in the fridge and cabinets. Replace junk foods with fruits as daytime snacks, soft drinks with fresh fruit juices, and lollies with a homemade alternative.
Start with you – Be a perfect example for the family. Create an atmosphere where staying healthy is the norm and a family trait, enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables and talk about how delicious they are. Praise your children when they make healthy choices spread the buzz not just with your family but with your close friends and love ones. By empowering yourself and your spouse by staying healthy, you can inspire and motivate the whole community to follow your lead.
Ask for respect – It can sometimes feel like society is working against you when you are trying to raise a healthy family, ask those close to you to respect your decisions by not gifting your children with lollies and chocolates. Explain that you are doing the best you can and that you would appreciate their support and allowing you to raise healthy children, after all, if they truly love your children they will also want them to be healthy and happy.

Do you have any other tips to add to this list? Please share in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

50 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 08 May 2017
    9:05 pm
By being there and doing things with their children.

- - mum888 said
  - 09 Dec 2015
    8:10 am
When we were young , our Dad smoked in front of us puffing his cigarette and gave us a lecture on smoking and said something like don’t ever do what Daddys doing as smoking is bad for you . We said then why are you smoking in front of us and not stop ?? He said because I can’t stop and it helps stops boredom and he has been doing since he was 15 . Luckily we were sensible kids, hated the smell of cigarettes and thought what sort of BS story was that ! Now he is in his 70s , due to an affect liver he had no choice but to cut down . Moral of the story … if you are going to teach your kids health , do it yourself first .

- - mom90758 said
  - 20 Nov 2015
    3:42 pm
Thanks, Amanda! Your articles are always so insightful and perceptive!

- - mom160421 said
  - 20 Nov 2015
    12:43 pm
A very good article. It really annoys me when I see overweight parents with overweight children. Surely seeing your children overweight would be enough of a trigger to want to get the whole family healthier.

- - mom81879 said
  - 03 Nov 2015
    3:20 pm
By promoting healthy eating in your house, by eating healthy yourself to set the right example. And by getting outside and doing things with your kids. They’re the 2 best ways to be a good role model

- - ozstarlett said
  - 02 Nov 2015
    10:55 am
thank you for the tips!!! I definetly need to take some of these on board

- - Mum of 5 darlings :) said
  - 26 Oct 2015
    10:47 am
Great article. I try to be a positive role model for my kids by eating healthy, drinking plenty of water & going for walks.

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 23 Oct 2015
    7:51 pm
Luckily my son loves most foods these days and has a passion for cooking

- - silvialee said
  - 17 Oct 2015
    3:20 am
serving healthy snacks too and definitely our circle of family, relatives has to be healthy eaters too.

- - 4littlemunchkins said
  - 14 Oct 2015
    10:08 pm
Our kids will always look up to us to be their models.

- - mom94125 said
  - 14 Oct 2015
    9:33 pm
heck yeah! we are the best role models to our kids!
- mom94125 replied
  
  17 Oct 2015 , 3:47 pm
  yep all great tips though and educate them about the kinds of food that they should be eating
- - Melanie said
  - 07 Oct 2015
    1:09 pm
This is a good list. Thanks.

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 04 Oct 2015
    11:41 am
agreed Amanda – be happy, live outdoors and shine brightly – your kids will too
- momma green replied
  
  06 Oct 2015 , 2:43 pm
  Perfectly said x
- - mom109229 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    3:54 pm
This is something I worry about.

- - curlytops said
  - 26 Sep 2015
    1:58 pm
A good article and easy to follow.

- - mom150983 said
  - 23 Sep 2015
    8:20 am
Such a great article thank you for sharing it’s good to be inspired to be healthy for our children
- momma green replied
  
  23 Sep 2015 , 2:02 pm
  Thank you for reading and commenting
- - mom74640 said
  - 22 Sep 2015
    10:23 am
Lke it

- - Rachel said
  - 22 Sep 2015
    7:28 am
I think teaching them young is the key and they
Are fast learners … Some great advice
- momma green replied
  
  22 Sep 2015 , 9:49 am
  Absolutely, nutritional education is so important from a young age, healthy food at a young age also helps with healthy gut bacteria so you are setting your child up for a healthier life
- - linaianna said
  - 21 Sep 2015
    8:48 pm
Great read thanks for sharing
- momma green replied
  
  22 Sep 2015 , 9:50 am
  Thanks for reading and commenting
- - dbhall82 said
  - 21 Sep 2015
    2:39 pm
I try and involve my kid i helping to cook tea so she will be excited that she made it and also so she can grow up knowing how to cook healthy meals
- momma green replied
  
  22 Sep 2015 , 9:52 am
  Agreed 100%!! We are passionate about kids in the kitchen, actually we have a free recipe book on our website (Made by kids for kids) called Kid Famous Snacks which your daughter might enjoy