A healthy family balances individual needs with group standards so that everybody is happy some, if not most, of the time. When everybody has a chance to get the sustenance they need from a good diet and to have their say, families can achieve physical and mental well-being.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation suggests improving physical health by setting family rules on exercise that everybody follows. A higher activity level should lead to better nutrition. Help your family find the right balance in life by sharing a good diet and getting more exercise---together.
Healthy Bodies
Physically active parents set the tone for the whole family. A family in which everyone exercises to their abilities and maintains a proportional body weight is healthy and projects a good appearance. Our bodies need physical activity daily to maintain good circulation, muscle tone and a healthy weight-to-height ratio. Children need more exercise than adults because they are growing and developing. What may look like play is an important part of building strong bones and motor skills.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers a daily exercise program one sign of a healthy family. It recommends 30 minutes of moderate to strenuous activity for adults on most days. Children need 60 minutes, and time spent on the soccer or ball field counts.
Healthy Diet
The USDA also considers a nutritious diet as a sign of a healthy family. As with exercise, when everyone joins in, it's easier to stick with the program and make the right choices. Parents must demonstrate the importance of a good diet by making it a top priority. The U.S. surgeon general reports that an overweight child with one obese parent has a higher risk of growing up with a weight-related condition such as diabetes or heart disease.
Eating right and getting more exercise will keep all family members at healthy weights. Getting optimum nutrition also shows in your skin and muscle tone and in your energy level. A good diet leaves your family free of chronic diseases and lets you enjoy an active lifestyle.
Healthy Relationships
Family members should be able to communicate despite differences. Harmony reigns when feelings are out in the open and people show respect and restraint. A positive indicator in this arena is that family members are as polite to each other as they would be to friends or strangers. Parents may have to encourage those who have difficulty asserting an opinion or accepting a compromise.
Working out everyday stress is crucial for children and parents. Eating right and getting more exercise are sound stress management tools, promoting mental as well as physical fitness. Kids who occasionally choose fruit over fries and parents who enjoy a weekly tennis match are indicators of a healthy family.
