Summer is approaching, and we're starting to be bombarded with messages about getting "bikini-ready." It's almost impossible to ignore the messages about thinness and perfection, but at home, we try to focus on finding the health that makes us feel good inside and out, instead of striving for the ideal weight.
- Words: At home we avoid describing ourselves and other people as "fat" or "skinny", and when we explain why we don't eat processed pastries or sweets like other people do, we talk about health and never about weight.
- Daily activity: During the day, the television is never on at home, and whenever possible, we go for walks in the countryside or to the park. On rainy and cold days, we still go out, well-wrapped up and for shorter periods, but we do go outside. When we go out to exercise—in our case, running and yoga—we tell the children where we are going and that we are doing it to become stronger and healthier.
- Family meals: From grocery shopping with the children to cooking together and, of course, sharing the table, children can and should be part of preparing homemade meals. Between school, work, and other responsibilities, we can't always do it, but we do it whenever we can. This way, we not only spend quality time together, but the adults also set an example for the children by eating healthy foods and demonstrating good table manners.
- Supplements, not miracle pills: The children take FOS , vitamins , and omegas ; the adults take a multivitamin , omegas , and a fiber supplement , but they never see us taking miracle pills to lose weight quickly. From a young age, they know that we take care of ourselves every day, not just in the last month before vacation.
That's how I learned, at home, where my parents applied what they were learning about nutrition and natural health. Today, with children of my own, I continue to learn from my father, and I teach and set an example for my children.