Before you can help others understand how to lead a heart-healthy life, you need to educate yourself about the topic. The more you know about healthy eating and exercise, the easier it will be to share that knowledge with others. The key to helping others lead a heart-healthy life is to make it simple and fun. Suggesting complicated diets or focusing too much on theory rather than providing easy-to-follow tips are more likely to alienate your loved ones.
Step 1
Get family members involved in the cooking process. Rather than trying to explain which foods are healthy and why, bring your kids and spouse into the kitchen and show them how to make a heart-healthy meal. If you're educating your family, replace unhealthy ingredients in your cupboards or refrigerator. For example, buy healthy fats such as olive oil to replace margarine and butter. Or buy nuts as a heart-friendly snack to replace chips and other fried snacks.
Step 2
Print out a shopping list of healthy foods and invite others to go shopping with you. PBS' Parent Helpers website recommends taking kids to farms and farmers' markets so they can get a better idea of where their food comes from. Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of a heart-healthy diet, and giving your family hands-on experience with them could be a better introduction than just buying them at the supermarket.
Step 3
Make it a game. When eating out, look at different dishes in the menu and try to guess what they contain. See if you can identify the foods with the least amount of cholesterol by avoiding those that contain lots of animal products such as meats, dairy and eggs.
Step 4
Go out and exercise together. Rather than talking about the importance of physical activity, plan active outings that are fun. Parents.com recommends post-dinner walks, dancing around the house while doing chores or jumping rope together. When it comes to friends, offer to meet for a game of tennis or a hike in a nearby park rather than going out for lunch. Use the time to talk about leading a healthy lifestyle.
