What makes a family healthy?

Healthy Family

I can think of three things that make a healthy family:

One - communication: healthy families communicate as well as take time to listen to one another. This includes having meals together and planning activities that involve interaction and participation. Communication and listening provides a feeling of belonging and purpose to all family members.

Two - healthy families are active and eat well. Healthy families get out there and move and are usually off the couch and away from the television. A healthy diet keeps them strong and fueled. With the right nutrition and activity, a family stays physically healthy.

Three - healthy families take time to be a family. Healthy families plan time together for relaxation and overall well-being. This could be a day where phones, televisions, and computers are off, or a mini-vacation, or even church. Either way, time is devoted to being reflective and being thankful for having one another.

If I were to draw a pie chart that divided up what occupies the time of a healthy family, there would be more focus on time with friends and family, mealtime, games, exercise, rest, and group activities. Less time would be spent stressing over work, watching television, playing computer games, and eating fast food.

What do you think? What makes a family healthy?

Next - Healthy Meal Planning for Toddlers

By Cheryl Tuttle MHS, RD, CSO, LDN - Cheryl is a Bachelors graduate of Salem College in Winston Salem, NC, and a Masters graduate from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. She conjointly completed her Masters and dietetics education under WCU's dietetics program to earn her RD in 2006. She has since been a practicing RD on the clinical dietetics team at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, NC.

You may also be interested in...

• TV free activities for toddlers
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of two don’t watch TV at all. With that in mind, here are some TV-free activities for you and your toddler to enjoy.
• more

• Encouraging toddlers to eat more fruits and veggies
• Finding creative ways to encourage fruits and vegetables in your child’s diet can be fun for the entire family.
• more

• Toddlers and sugar - what parents need to know
• It is important for parents to understand how sugar can affect their children and what they can do to keep treats and other sweet foods to a minimum.
• more

• Toddler activities - Exploring senses
• Here are 10 activities centered around turning on your toddler’s senses:
• more