The key to healthy family living is to get everyone involved and for parents to lead by example. If you have a positive attitude to health issues, exercise and good eating habits, the more likely your children will lead a healthy lifestyle.

GET ACTIVE

• Health experts recommend that children are active for at least an hour every day - walking, cycling, dancing, skipping and kicking a ball around in the back garden all count. Just 20 – 30 minutes a day or regular exercise for adults can have positive benefits on health and fitness levels.
• Regular exercise will improve balance and muscular strength helping to make heart and lungs more efficient, and can improve physical and mental health - no matter what your age.

EAT YOURSELF HEALTHY

• Parents who enjoy a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable set a good example for the children. As children grow older they often maintain the eating pattern that has been established at home.
• Try to open discussions about which foods are healthy and what their vitamin or nutrients are so they become more aware of what they are eating.
• Try to reduce the number of high fat, high sugar snack foods and drinks consumed on a regular basis
• Eat 3 meals a day and turn meal times into an occasion by eating as a family as often as possible (preferably with the TV off!)
• Encourage your children to participate in the kitchen by letting them help in food preparation and cooking.

THINK HEALTHY TO BE HEALTHY

• By parents having a positive attitude to eating and exercise, children are more likely to have a positive attitude too
• If you or your child start to fall outside the healthy body fat ranges make small and gradual lifestyle changes such as increasing activity.