If you’ve made the decision to start living healthier, this can be heavily influenced by those around you. Particularly your family. A new lifestyle is going to include different grocery shopping habits, moving more and healthier food choices. It’s going to make everything that much easier, if your family is on board with the goals you are trying to achieve. So how do you encourage the whole family to adopt some healthier habits, particularly if you have fussy eaters at home?

Healthy Swaps & Amendments

If you’re adopting healthier choices in your meals, you might be daunted by the thought of making different meals for yourself, partner and children. However this can be alleviated with some simple swaps or amendments. For example, if you’re making some fish and vegetables for dinner, you can simply add additional sauces, mash or bread to their meals and keep yours as is. If you’re making something the whole family can have, pack it with vegies and simply keep your portions appropriate, but your partner’s a little bigger.

Try not to force the family to eat something they don’t want. Offer new dishes or ingredients over time, or make healthy swaps to the family favourites rather than changing every meal in the first week. The LifeShape cook book is a great place for meal ideas appropriate for the whole family.

Positive Vibes & Rolemodelling

Adopting a healthier lifestyle doesn’t have to sound daunting to the family. Create positive language around your new lifestyle rather than focusing on “dieting”. Being a positive role model is an important part of your children’s perception of food. To get them thinking positively about physical activity, use language like “I feel so good after going for a walk each night, would you like to start coming with me?”.

Try to avoid negative connotation about food like “You can’t leave the table until you eat all your vegetables”, as this language reinforces that vegetables are a chore or less desirable foods.

Encourage Participation

Getting everyone involved in what you’re doing is a great way to help them understand the changes you’re making. For example, have the kids help you chop, peel or grate vegies for dinner or go on family bike rides together. If you have the space, get the family involved in planting a herb garden and harvesting the produce.

Try these steps over time, your family may need time to adjust to your lifestyle, just like you may.