Late night snacks while Netflix binging? Check! A happy crawling toddler? Check! Splashing in the rain puddle while cuddling with the street dog? Check! And just like that, you’re the world’s best parent! Super cool and totally easy, right?
A parent’s life is all about balance, isn’t it? While we are busy achieving this delicate equilibrium, we might not realize the health risks we unknowingly subject our families to.
From common cold after a random midnight ice cream feast to a more severe concern like food poisoning, many health hazards come with an undisciplined lifestyle. Your family may call you “boring” for being a control freak when it comes to health, but who cares? After all, it is your job to keep them safe and sound!
Read on for some tips to keep your family healthy the easy and fun way!
1. Prepare to Welcome Your Newest Family Member
How are you preparing yourself and the house before your newest little member comes home? Sanitizing the newly bought crib? Dipping every tiny outfit in a disinfectant? Shaving your furry feline friend? Good job! But there’s more to welcoming a healthy baby than cleaning every nook and cranny of your home!
Your unborn child could develop serious health complications if you or your partner suffer from certain infections. These include chickenpox, rubella, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, and toxoplasmosis. So, make sure you get yourselves vaccinated at least four to six weeks before your due date!
You must also learn about potential birthing defects like cerebral palsy. It is a developmental disability that can occur when the brain doesn’t develop properly or is damaged before, during, or shortly after birth. A detailed cerebral palsy guide can help you understand more about this condition and how to ensure a smooth delivery.
2. Make Time for Family Meals
Family dinners are the perfect opportunity to catch up with each other’s day, try out new recipes, and, most importantly, eat a nutritious meal! But in today’s fast-paced (and fast-food) world, sitting down for a leisurely meal is not always possible. Did you know that about 395 people suffered from food poisoning in 2018 after consuming McDonald’s salad? Yes, that’s true!
Fast food can also raise your blood pressure, cause mood swings, and make you more susceptible to diabetes. So, if you can’t have a family dinner every night, make it a point to have at least one meal together every weekend. You can also try out some fun and healthy recipes that the whole family will love! How about some cooking competition where the best dish wins a prize?
3. Encourage Everyone to Get Moving
Are you all living a sedentary lifestyle? Cushioning it with family time, are we? Well, that’s not entirely a bad thing. But too much of anything is never good! According to CDC, about one in four adults are physically inactive. It means they don’t get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity every week.
And since your kids don’t see you doing it, they’re not going to do it either! So be a role model and encourage your family to get moving. You can start by taking a brisk walk in the park or going for a swim together. And if you want to make it more fun, you can even play some basketball or soccer in the backyard!
4. Don’t Let Your Kids Fall Sick This School Year
The school year is starting soon, and you know what that means – germs, germs, and more germs! From the common cold to the flu, there are several diseases that your kids can catch from their classmates. So how do you ensure they stay healthy throughout the year?
For starters, you can get them vaccinated. The flu vaccine is for everyone aged six months and older. You should also teach them to wash their hands properly and often, especially before eating or using the restroom. And lastly, make sure they eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep! A well-balanced sleep and diet schedule can do wonders for their immunity.
5. Keep Stress Out of Your Home
Life happens every day! Whether you messed up in an important meeting or got in a car accident, it’s important to remember that stress is a part of life. But that doesn’t mean you have to bring it home with you. Studies have shown that chronic stress can take a toll on your physical and mental health. It can also affect your relationships and how you parent your children. Most importantly, your children sense your stress, which can make them anxious or withdrawn.
So how to keep stress out of your home? First, try to identify the sources of your stress. Is it your job? Your finances? Once you know what’s causing stress, you can start to look for ways to manage it. If your job is the problem, see if you can delegate some of your responsibilities or take on a less demanding role. If it’s your finances, sit down with your partner and develop a budget.
Conclusion:
We understand it can be challenging to get everyone in the house on the same page regarding health and wellness. Preference and schedules can make it tough to connect over meals or get active together. However, by making small changes and being conscious of your choices, you can improve the health of your whole family!
Start small, but start! Make healthy living a fun challenge for everyone in the house, and see how much better you all feel. Not to mention, by teaching your kids healthy habits now, you’re setting them up for a lifetime of success. Good luck!