It is an annual right-of-passage for families to make diet-related resolutions. A New Year marks a time to rid of the past and to turn over a new leaf – a great excuse for trying to incorporate healthier eating habits into your family’s lifestyle.
Sharing a New Year’s resolution as a family can make goals more achievable, as there is a common ambition shared and each member can support one another.
Take a look at our (manageable) New Year’s resolutions which may help guide your family to achieving healthier eating habits in 2018.
- One more serving of fruit/veg per day
According to Diabetes UK, 66% of adults eat three or fewer portions of fruit and/or vegetables a day. Incorporating fresh fruit and veggies into your family’s diet is extremely important and making small-steps can be extremely beneficial.
Try packing a piece of fruit into your child’s lunchbox, offer your child a handful of blueberries as a snack or maybe serve some extra vegetables alongside an evening meal. Get creative!
- Prepare healthy meals together
Preparing healthy meals as a family can encourage children to be interested in healthy food – children are much more likely to enjoy something which they are proud of making themselves! Preparing meals together can also encourage long-term healthier eating habits.
Preparing meals together gives families the opportunity to spend quality time with one another.
- Eat together
Eating together can help to encourage fussy eaters to try new foods without bribery and coercion – seeing other members of the family enjoying their food can be enough persuasion.
Eating together as a family is a great way of bonding and can allow families to reflect on each other’s day.
- Make changes
Making small changes to your family’s diet can make a big difference to everyday health.
- Swap sugary drinks for water or milk
- Swap chips for some vegetables or homemade sweet potato wedges during your evening meal
- Swap unhealthy snacks for healthy alternatives such as fruit and nuts. We like to swap crisps with celery sticks with a tzatziki or hummus.