New Year’s resolutions often focus on personal improvement. This year experts are encouraging entire families to consider making a pledge to adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Parents have more potential than anybody else to influence their children’s behavior, including their eating habits, according to a study by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In fact, parents outrank sports celebrities as the people most children would most like to be, according to the survey.
“You are the most influential role model in your child’s life,” said Kim Larson, registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy spokesperson. “Modeling healthy eating behaviors encourages children to adopt healthy behaviors that will benefit them for a lifetime.”
Setting realistic goals
Small steps add up, and Larson recommends making healthy lifestyle changes that are realistic and easy to stick with for the long haul. Try adopting healthy changes for the entire family:
Focus on overall health, not weight alone
According to the experts, good nutrition, health and fitness fun should be the focus of your family’s goals, not calorie counting, food restriction or working out.
“You don’t want your kids to think that a healthy lifestyle is only about how much they weigh,” Larson said. “Concentrate on delicious nutrition and fun physical activities.”
For a personalized plan tailored to your lifestyle, food preferences and the unique needs of your family, consider consulting a registered dietitian nutritionist.
This New Year, you can get the whole family together by committing to a healthier lifestyle as a team.
(StatePoint)
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