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STAYING MOTIVATED
Heart healthy eating habits don’t become a habit overnight. It takes time and effort to make them part of your routine. The following tips will help you get started.
Tips for motivating your family to eat healthy:
Have a plan – Meals tend to be healthier when we plan them ahead of time, so try to plan menus a week or a month at a time. Keep track of healthy meals your family likes and keep experimenting with new healthy recipes from time to time.
Start slow – Do not try to revamp eating habits overnight but decide on one specific change at a time; and do not rush. Remember this is going to be for a lifetime not just for a week.
Never give up – Without a doubt you will find resistance from someone in the family. Even when the family does not show much progress or interest, do not be discouraged. Chances are that you are making progress in many other ways: you are probably eating together more often, planning meals together, feeling more energetic, etc. If you stay the course you will continue to make progress.
Get creative – Allow your kids to help you in the kitchen with age– appropriate tasks. Letting kids help you in the kitchen gets them excited about a meal and can spark creative healthy meals your family will eat.
Be a good role model – Kids usually want to do what their parents do. Eating a variety of foods is a great way to model healthy habits. Research shows children are often more willing to eat healthy foods and be active if they see their parents and other family members doing these things first. For best results try to get everyone in the family involved.
Be patient – It’s okay if your family doesn’t like every meal you serve. If you keep exposing them to new varieties, they will find ones they like! Persistence will pay off eventually.
Celebrate – When the family has turned a healthy change into a habit, it’s time to celebrate! Reward the family with a fun activity everyone will enjoy. Activities such as camping, visiting an amusement park or just a night in your backyard will let them know that you really care.
