1. Healthy eating should be a family affair If one person needs to change his eating, everyone does. If one child needs to lose weight, the rest of the family shouldn’t be eating ice cream next to him. Instead, teach your family about balanced eating: fruits & vegetables, starch, protein, and fat. Remind everyone that eating unhealthy occasionally is OK, in moderation. Teach them to make good choices under your supervision so they can continue to make good choices without you. It’s never about them, it’s always about a healthy lifestyle for the whole family. It’s not about losing weight, it’s about being healthy. It’s not about looking a certain way, but about feeling a certain way. Ideally, eating right should make you feel good. 2. Learn Intuitive/Mindful Eating

Learning to stop eating when you are full, to eat foods that are good for you and don’t give you highs and lows. This requires slowing down your meals: Eating without using distractions, like a book or phone; Thinking about how your body feels as you are eating. 3. Get Your kids involved in meal planning and meal preparation

At the beginning of each week, ask each member of the family to suggest a dinner, and let them take part in its execution. This dinner should be well balanced and it’s a casual way to teach family members about balanced meals 4. Eat Family dinners

Eat family meals as often as you can. And just another added benefit, taking the time to have family dinners is one of the best things you can do for your kids. It’s a relaxed atmosphere where they can share with you the highs and lows of their day, and feel close to their family unit. 5. You serve the food; they decide what to eat and how much

Once the food is served, it’s your child’s decision what they want to eat and how much of it. Meal time should not be a battle. They must eat something you made, but they can decide what and how much. If you are worried about their intake of certain food, make those foods less available. Plate those foods; don’t make enough for seconds, or don’t buy them at all. Slow down the meal. Start with salad; let them fill up a bit on it first. I often cut up vegetables and put them on the table for those who are hungry to snack on them before the food is served. 6. Exercise together – but make it fun

Physical activity releases endorphins into our body and makes us feel good, but there is a learning curve inside our bodies, and we need to achieve a certain level of activity to release these natural chemicals. Families should meet to plan and choose activities they would enjoy doing together. Hiking, bike riding, playing tennis are all great family activities, but find the one that is right for your family. Make sure to put it into your schedule so that it actually happens. 7. Model healthy eating and a healthy body image

Just remember, your children take all their cues from you, so be a good role model. Eat healthily, but enjoy your food. Accept and appreciate your body and treat it well. This will influence and help more than anything you put on the table.