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One way to live a healthy lifestyle and increase your chances for good overall quality of life is to eat a well balanced, plant based diet. But even eating vegetarian is not enough. Exercise is a critical component to good health and unfortunately a missing piece of the puzzle for too many people. Making time for exercise can be challenging, especially when work and family compete for the bulk of your waking hours each week. So why not spend some quality family time and exercise together in ways that are fun for children and parents alike?
Keeping in shape is a lot like reading. It's important that you not just talk about it with your kids but that you model your belief in the benefits of exercise by working out regularly. Exercise can be drudgery or fun, depending on how you manage to work it into your already busy lifestyle. In fact, the number one reason why people stop exercising is boredom. So here are some tips for keeping fit for all ages, ideas you can all do together as a family and have fun all the while!
Hiking
I grew up in the city, my husband in the country. But despite our diverse backgrounds, we both agree that the woods hold serenity and beauty that makes hiking feel invigorating any time of the year. My family needed a form of exercise a few years back that included everyone-our preschooler, our dog, my husband, and myself. I can honestly say that the four of us are never as happy as when we are together tromping in the woods. We allow our son to run ahead of us on the trails, something we cannot do other places, so long as he is always able to turn back and keep us within sight. He is the leader and charts our course. We have taught him how to follow trail markers and look for clues of wildlife. With our dog by his side he has traversed many a wooded path with energy and enthusiasm. We loved hiking so much that we decided to buy snowshoes last year so we could continue to visit the woods during the winter months as well.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a great way to get your family out of doors and have some fun at the same time. It is a relatively inexpensive winter sport (we paid under $100 for each pair of snowshoes) and lots of fun. There is really no technique to snowshoeing-you simply lift your foot and walk where you would not normally be able to because of deep snow. The snowshoes keep you on top of the snow rather than sinking down with each step. This sport we began when my son was five and it seemed like the right age. We conquer gradual slopes and heavily wooded terrain with our snowshoes. Of course good snacks for winter weather are a must for small snowshoers and big ones alike!
Sledding
Sledding is another relatively inexpensive sport that can be done on the spur of the moment if you live in a snowy climate. Protective gear such as a helmet is a must for children flying down snowy hills. We sled at a nearby hill that has a long slope so the walks back up are great exercise for all of us. Here again, we are able to all go sledding, even our dog!
Downhill Skiing
Downhill skiing is a sport my husband and I stopped doing when I was pregnant for my son but this year he is taking lessons each week through his school, so we are eager to begin this fun sport again. My biggest complaint about downhill skiing is the cost. My husband and I have our own equipment so we no longer have the expense of renting, but a day of skiing at a major resort in our area can cost about one hundred dollars per person per day with refreshments and lift tickets. On our budget, that means only a couple of trips to the ski resorts a year for us. But still the views from the chair lift are breathtaking and the feeling of swishing down a snowy trail exhilarating.
Rollerblading
Rollerblading is another sport that can be done year round. With the right protective gear it can be lots of fun. In the warmer months we roller blade outdoors and in the inclement weather we pack our rollerblades and pads for indoor roller rinks. Nearly everyone can push their feet along to rollerblade and it is enjoyable and a good workout.
Swimming
Swimming is another sport we do year round even though we live in the Northeast. A few years ago we joined our local YMCA so that we can now swim in our own backyard pool during the warm months and indoor at the Y during the cooler times of year. When my son was about two we took a Mommy and Me swim class at the Y together so he could get used to the water. He loved it. We followed that up with backyard swimming lessons when he was four and with so much exposure to pools, he quickly caught on to swimming. Family swim times at our Y are late afternoons and early evenings and some hours on weekends too. Swimming is an excellent way to stay in shape.
Audubon Adventures
We also joined our state's Audubon this year and through this organization we have enjoyed family hikes, organized group snowshoeing experiences, and canoe trips. Adudobans work to maintain and support the environment and the wildlife that lives there. We are fortunate to live within easy driving distance of two Audubon sites, affording us lots of outdoor family fun all year long. Audubons are great places to meet people of all ages who care about the environment. There are volunteer opportunities maintaining trails and acting as guides as well as leading workshops. My family has learned so much from the naturalists who work as Audubon instructors. Also the family events have introduced us to other families who care about the environment and preserving it.
Canoeing
Canoeing is a great family sport as well and especially a good workout for your upper body. With two adults and one child, our son can sit in the middle of the canoe while we rowers take over the front and back. Canoeing with binoculars allows our son to be the master guide, pointing out birds and other wildlife along the way. We don't own a canoe but have been able to rent them for such excursions from our Audubon society.
There's lots you can do as a family to keep moving and in shape and having fun. We have friends who used to put their toddlers into backpacks and cross-country ski and snowshoe. All of the sports mentioned above can begin when kids are young and can be done with greater abilities, as they grow older. The important thing is to have fun, whether the sport be done indoors or outdoors, for an hour or for a day. So grab your family, get moving, and stay in shape at the same time!
--Carol Laliberte is mother to Andrew, a college instructor, newspaper columnist, freelance writer, and consultant. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her son, her husband, Phil, and their two fish, Seaweed and Week Week. She has been a vegetarian for more years than she can remember.
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