Trickling Up to a Healthy Balance

One week, we read a study proclaiming coffee may cause us harm if we consume more than a certain amount per day. The next week can find us reading an article saying the same amount of coffee may improve our health. We need to drink {this many} glasses of water a day, then {this many} glasses changes to {this many}. {This much} wine helps; {this much} wine hurts. And this is just the liquid part of our diet! We practically need a spreadsheet to keep up.

We also keep track of what our children eat, and these requirements shift as well. How many of us see this happen: our kids get our attention for a healthy diet and we feed ourselves by finishing off what they leave on their plates? If our kids eat healthily, at least we know we get healthy leftovers!

Food makes up one component of a healthy lifestyle. We also need exercise to keep our bodies fit. So, does hauling a massive double stroller in and out of the car as we conquer a list of errands all day qualify as our weight-lifting reps for the day? We like to think it does!

This theme seems everywhere: What happens with our kids creates what happens with us. Instead of trickling down, our health can rely on trickling up from our children to us. So how do we help ourselves while also helping our kids?

Bring what constitutes as healthy into your homes. If you make the decisions for food shopping, you create the healthy choices. Staying organized helps maintain a healthy lifestyle. Grabbing items on the go leads us to make convenient, hasty food choices. Make exercise a family affair by using your kid’s energy to motivate you to try to keep up! Ever see the study in which a professional athlete tried to keep up with a two-year-old? The two-year-old won; no contest. Use this to your advantage! When your kids move, you move, too.

Most importantly, try to remember the healthiest aspect of all: a sense of humor and laughter keeps us young at heart and young of mind and body. We hope you enjoy finding ways to trickle health up to yourself!

Featured Photo: Shutterstock

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