If you want to bring your family closer together, shared experiences work well toward building a bond — and when carefully thought out, can improve on healthy habits as well.
- Eat together. Today’s children (and adults) face an obesity epidemic. Much of that stems from poor eating habits due in large part to not taking the time in a busy schedule to sit down to a nutritious home-cooked meal. While that doesn’t mean a 50s-style meal of pot roast, green beans, and mashed potatoes from scratch, the simple act of eating as a family can help improve children’s nutritional health. This includes turning off the TV. We have a tendency to nosh on junk while eating in front of the television. Even 20 minutes sharing a meal together can help families communicate better – and make better food choices.
- Make it fun. If family time seems like a chore, nobody will enjoy it and they’ll automatically try to find ways to avoid it. Whether it’s coming up with family game night, going on a walk or bike ride together, or seeing what’s going on in your local community, planning something interesting as a family can get you out of the “let’s watch a movie” rut. And while that has its place, when you want to develop healthy habits, making physical or mental exercise fun sets up kids for making healthier choices later on as they become adults.
- Cook together. Before you sit down to eat, why not prepare the meal as a family? Much of our poor eating comes from doing so mindlessly, not making conscious choices ahead of time about what to eat. Plan a few meals a week that everyone participates in creating — this way parents can introduce new foods to kids and kids can learn to cook in the process, setting up healthy lifetime habits. Even young children can put toppings on a whole-wheat pizza and stir eggs (with a little guidance when needed), and can make everyone in the family a bit more adventurous with their eating.
- Do something in the community. Aside from physical health, families who volunteer together help develop empathy for others and willingness to reach out to those in need. This allows everyone in the family to think about what they’re grateful for while helping those less fortunate. Develop the recognition that small acts of kindness can create positive ripple effects that reach wider audiences. Families who volunteer together feel a sense of community and belonging are more apt to reach out to others who need it. Now, that’s a two-way gift.
Next time you think about what to do as family, consider doing something that’s both enjoyable and healthy — and know that doing so more often will lead to more connected, happier times for years to come.
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