Fitness for families!
It is important to be a role model for your kids and get them into healthy habits at a young age so this will stay with them through life and help protect against disease. Exercise is also a fun way to spend time together as a family.
There are a number of ways families can enjoy exercising together.
- Investing in a pair of rollerblades or a bicycle for everyone will spice up a Saturday afternoon in the park or on the pier.
- If ball sports are your family’s “thing” organise friendly football/hockey/rugby/cricket competitions in the local park or leisure centre with families, friends or relatives.
- Instead of going on that lazy sun holiday choose to go on activity holidays such as skiing, hill-walking or sailing. Action packed holidays provide excellent fun filled time together as a family while exercising and learning a new skill.
- Instead of taking your children to school in the car get them to walk or cycle with you instead. This is a great way of getting daily exercise whilst allowing your children to get out and about and make more friends.
At home:
- On homework breaks do jumping jacks or run up and down the stairs. This will not only add to your daily exercise routine but keep your child alert and ready for the books.
- Try turning off the TV for a day and see what action packed ideas you can come up with.
- Get everybody in the family involved with energetic housework such as vacuuming and washing floors.
- Dancing is an excellent fun-filled exercise so turn on the music and dance.
Finally, contact your local fitness centre to see what family fun activities are available and check out local fun races for all the family to train for and take part in together.
What are some ideas for healthy snacks that the whole family can enjoy?
- To help meet the recommendation of five or more per day, have fruit and veg as snacks as often as possible.
- Fruit suggestions include fresh fruits, mini tins of fruit and dried fruits.
- Fruit smoothies made with semi skimmed milk or low fat yoghurt are packed with fruit while boosting calcium intakes.
- Raw vegetables such as baby carrots or sliced cucumbers, celery or peppers with healthy dips like hummus and salsa are easy to prepare.
- Vegetable soup is another wholesome vegetable alternative.
- For sandwich snacks use wholegrain bread with sliced, cold meat such as lean ham and turkey, tinned tuna and salmon or cheese for excellent sources of protein, fibre and carbohydrate.
- Peanut butter is a great source of healthy monounsaturated fat while the protein and fibre it contains keeps away those hunger pangs. It can be spread on wholegrain toast or crackers as a healthy snack for all the family. Choose sugar-free varieties of peanut butter.
- Other handy snacks include yoghurt, individual portions of cheese, air-popped popcorn (also high in fibre), cereal bars, crackers and mini rice cakes.
