by Kay Carter | OnPoint Nutrition

If you’re struggling to keep up with your healthy New Year’s resolutions, don’t stress—just because these goals are on pause right now doesn’t mean that you can’t focus on your health this spring. Here are five ways to get you and your family back on track to a healthier lifestyle.

Set weekly goals
This may sound obvious, but writing down your goals and keeping them in a space where you can visually see them (like on your refrigerator or on a wall in your kitchen) will help you stay motivated and incentivize the kids to hit their goals, especially if there’s a prize involved. Start small at first and slowly work your way up toward more challenging goals.

For example, your weekly goals in the beginning could be to take three 30-minute walks and cook at least two meals a week. Your kids’ goals could look something like this:

• • Eat vegetables with dinner at least two times this week.
  • Play outside for 30 minutes.
  • Stretch in the morning for five minutes.

  According to House Method, one way you can get more motivated to work out is to create S.M.A.R.T goals for you and your family. These goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

  Meal plan
  Eating out or grabbing fast food on the way home may seem like the more convenient option, especially on days packed with sports practices, work meetings, and volunteering. However, cooking at home is usually healthier, allows for a more balanced diet, and helps with portion control.

  To help you and your family start eating healthier, consider meal planning every Sunday night and keep your nutrition simple. Get inspiration from Pinterest, cookbooks, or friends and try to plan out each meal for the week. Make a list of groceries you’ll need and have your kids help you grocery shop—this will help them understand which foods are healthy and which ones should be avoided.

  Practice mindfulness
  Being mindful can be a great way to develop a new appreciation for all of the things around you. Truly being present in each moment can give you greater understanding of what’s important, both mentally and physically. As a family, you can practice being more mindful by limiting cell phone usage during family time, taking walks together, and enjoying meals as a group.

  Encourage each other
  There will be days in which you’ll want to cheat and eat the foods you’re not supposed to, and days when exercise is the lowest of priorities. Falling off the fitness wagon is perfectly normal. If you find yourself or one of your family members “in a rut”, offer some encouragement and try getting back on track to hit your goals. Remind them of how good they’ll feel when they hit their goals and how healthy their body will be.

  Remember Moderation
  Healthy snack choices may take a back seat when chocolates, junk food, and other sweets are readily available in the pantry or fridge. SO, stash them away and save them for special occasions. Typically, when these foods are out of sight, they’re out of mind. Replace the cookie jar with a fruit bowl, give your kids strawberries or mango slices instead of other sweets, and introduce the family to flavored sparkling water as an alternative for juice and soda.

  

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