Being a parent can be one of the most rewarding things in the world, but it can also be one of the most challenging, especially when it comes to keeping yourself and your family healthy. People without children often muse about the lack of options that parents must have when it comes to fitness, but believe it or not there are plenty of ways that you can stay healthy as an individual and as a family unit; you just need to be creative and keep the big picture in mind. A healthy child is a happy child, and this means nurturing their bodies as well as their minds.

Make Time For You

This might sound a little selfish or cliche, but taking some time out for yourself now and again is important as a parent. It isn’t enough to just read a book or take a bath while the baby is napping, you need to set aside time for yourself to go out for an hour or two and do the things that you enjoyed doing before you became a parent. This might mean going to the gym for an hour, taking a yoga class, or going for a run with your friends. Maybe you want to get out and go to dinner for a treat on the weekend. You’ve got to remember that it isn’t just your body that needs to be active and content in order to stay healthy; you’ve also got to stimulate your mind, and create a balance in your emotional life.

Take It Outside

One way that you can find activity time as a parent and still spend those special moments with the kids is to get everybody outside for some family fun. Younger children enjoy days spent at the playground where you can push them on swings, play tag on the grass and have a generally active good time. Older kids might prefer a sports activity such as swimming, tennis, or soccer to be the family focus.

“One reason why physical activity in childhood is so important is because it helps your child to maintain a healthy weight. But that’s not the only reason. Physical activity is a part of the way children discover the world and themselves.” – NHS

Being out and part of nature is another way to enforce some healthy lifestyle choices on yourself and your kids, because you’re getting fresh air, spending time in the sun, and enjoying the calming resources that the great outdoors has been proven to provide people who are stressed out or anxious.

Create A Family Meal Plan

Another way to stay healthy while raising a family is to create a family meal plan that the whole gang sticks to. This means making special meals for busy nights when the kids have hockey, as well as setting out healthy options for fun nights that include pizza made with whole wheat dough or turkey burgers on multigrain buns.

“Pick one night a week to have a designated meal, such as Taco Tuesday or Sandwich Saturday. This helps simplify your menu and grocery list.” – Quick and Dirty Tips

Sitting down together as a family to do this will not only keep everybody on track, but give everybody the option to suggest a favorite dish.