At Kenzai following a healthy diet is important to any program that we offer and as trainers we stress the balance of 80% diet and 20% training. On occasion, sticking to the diet at home can feel like being on a lonely path especially if other members of the household are not on a program and aren’t considering their food choices. So why not make it a family thing?
Let’s be clear, we aren’t for a second suggesting that your kids, if you have any, follow a Kenzai program but that they learn a little along the way. Talking about food with children, going shopping for food and involving children in food preparation can be a good experience. Highlighting food with older children, teenagers in particular, might be tricky and so care needs to be given about how to approach this.
Whilst looking at your own diet, it might also be a time to look at what your family is eating and a time to re-evaluate.
Are you all having enough fruit, veg, colorful food? What snacks are they having? It’s important to have a balance.
You don’t want to be the only one eating healthily whilst watching other family members devouring sugary salty snacks but at the same time you might not want to ban all treat food just because ‘mummy or daddy are on a training program.’ As you are changing your eating habits it might be a time to think about the family changes you might want to make, if any.
Try to include your children in food preparation: chopping veggies, cutting meat or fish, following recipes and actual cooking……the fun part! Look through recipes and ask them to choose the food for the family on occasion. Teaching them how to cook and getting them involved it a great way to spend time together. There are plenty of TV programs out there with amazing, talented kids cooking and baking to also inspire other children. When they grow up, it’s a wonderful thing that they know how to cook more that just a boiled egg and toast!
Life for a lot of people is busy, hectic and full. Not always full of great things but sometimes just full of jobs that needs doing. Try to slow things down a little. Sit down as a family to a meal together as much as possible. Enjoy the food, talk to one another and find time to be present in the moment. Try to avoid food on the go. Running out of the house eating a snack or sandwich on the go isn’t ideal and might not be the image that you want to give your children.
Remember children see and hear most things and setting a good example and making food a family affair is something to consider.
Angela Worthington // Kenzai Trainer
