 Take time to care for yourself
The rush to get the kids supplied for back to school might leave you about two seconds to take a breath. Now it's on to homework, packing lunches, teacher conferences and all sorts of other activities.
Who has time to exercise and plan meals?
This needs to be a priority in our lives, not just for ourselves, but for the sake of our children. Obesity is taking a toll on our kids today. We need to teach them how to live a healthy lifestyle.
A healthy family lifestyle does not need to be a chore. It can create quality time.
• Do you eat out often? Why not try the latest trend in family meals: do-it-yourself pre-prepared frozen family dinners. The stores provide fresh ingredients that are ready to assemble. You choose the dishes you want to create a meal that your family likes. You can make a lot of meals or just a few. Make the trip a family outing where each person creates a meal or two of their choosing. This will save you money too.
• Packing lunches is key to eating well. School cafeterias are getting better, but there are still many unhealthy choices. It's less stressful if you pack lunches the night before. Sandwiches can be made up to a week ahead and frozen. Move them into the fridge the night before and they are thawed by lunchtime. Add a piece of fruit and one small treat and lunch is done.
• Get active together. The weather is still warm, but evenings are cooling off enough to take a walk. Check out your town's recreation center. They are very affordable and have lots of great activities. When the weather cools down more, you can go to your local high school and play tennis or racquetball for free.
Give your kids the gift of healthy habits. It's a gift that will keep on giving for years to come.
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