Is your family a little too attached to the TV – or their devices? Ask yourself whether they’re getting enough fresh air and exercise to keep them fighting fit? Or are you all feeling a bit tired and listless? If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, it might be time to get the family together to do some exercise. With this in mind, we have come up with a few ways to help you and your family tackle exercise and healthy eating together.
Focus On Your Fuel
Exercise can feel like a chore when you’re feeling flat and run down. There are many healthy and tasty recipes you can try out on your family to give them the fuel and nutrition they need to tackle their day. Eating healthy foods with sustained energy release ingredients, like low-GI grains, can help improve concentration, mood and energy levels. This means that you will actually “feel” like doing some exercise when you get the opportunity. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to sacrifice taste for nutrition. Healthy bran rusks and golden braai mielies are just a few healthy alternatives worth looking into.
Schedule It
All families are busy and chaotic. Remove the temptation of cancelling exercise in favour of other pressing family duties by scheduling the exercise session with everyone in your family. This time should become sacred. Stick to the appointment and make sure everyone is reminded well ahead of time. Make sure you prepare for it, so that if everyone needs a pair of takkies to go on the walk, these are packed and ready beforehand. It can help to do this first thing in the morning before other ‘stuff’ comes up.
Try New Things
Obvious exercise, like going to the gym, doing yoga or taking a walk is great, but can become boring if the whole family isn’t into it. Keep things fresh and exciting. This way your family will forget that they’re actually doing exercise. There are many novel ways to get outdoors and get active without having to go to the gym. Take Geocaching, for example. It’s basically a giant treasure hunt that takes place all over the world. Download the app and go looking for the closest stash. They’re hidden all over South Africa, and the game can be fantastic way to explore the country and get moving. Other avenues to consider include boxing, trampoline jumping and tree climbing. Just let your imagination run wild. If it gets you and your sweethearts’ hearts pumping, do it!
For more healthy lifestyle tips and balanced meal ideas, visit Flora today.
