To Health

January is always a time of renewing our eating habits around here. Last year we started taking the month off of sweets. Well, we actually start a little into January and run a month from whenever we start. It seems like the holidays linger into the new year, and trying to start too soon is just setting us up for failure. 

So, this week we started a little trial run, and on Monday our fresh plan for this year will fully kick into gear. We have two main goals - healthy eating and spending time outside (hopefully active time).

For healthy eating I revamped a chart I found online and just made a simple chart for each kid. Rows down the side for the days of the week and columns across the top for the specific areas we are tracking right now which include the following:

• water

• fruits and veggies

• protein

• exercise

• no sweets

I am not above bribery. We actually pay our kids to eat healthy, sometimes. This time they get a nickle for each healthy item consumed or accomplished. If they do well, they can make $7 each week just for having healthy habits. I figure I will save that much or more in doctor and dentist bills with the improved habits. 

Then, we added a little extra incentive. We talked together about some possible rewards for special achievement. We decided that if you can get $7 a week all month you get an extra prize and we made a list of some options that are worth another few dollars each, with various options so there is something for everyone. Some rewards are free, but will cost me extra time. Here are some of the bonus rewards they came up with:

• A day off of dishes (the most hated chore in our house)

• A $5 Amazon gift card

• Thirty minutes extended bed time

• A new lock to pick (Nathan got a lock picking set for Christmas and this is his favorite incentive right now)

• Bonus screen time

I thought I had planned well for this by buying and prepping extra fruits and vegetables for the week. However, we ran out of a couple of our favorites mid-week and I had to make an extra run to the store. As inconvenient as it was, I am thankful that they are eagerly devouring berries, greek yogurt, bananas, oranges, and lettuce. 

Goal two - time outside

This was shared on facebook, and I jumped on it eagerly. The goal is to spend 1000 hours outside this year. That's just over three hours a day, which in the middle of winter sounds impossible, but with a goal and incentives, anything is possible. 

Here is the website with free printable tracker sheets: https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/trackers

Again, we compiled a list of rewards. Some the same as ones on our healthy eating challenge, and some others we created along the way as we discussed spending time outside. 

This first week has involved lots of conversations and I needed to remind myself that this was all part of these challenges. 

Some of the FAQ around our house this week:

• What's a serving of strawberries? 

• How much peanut butter will make a serving of protein?

• How much protein do we need everyday?

• It's cold, what if I freeze to death outside?

• Can I sleep outside and count it as outside hours?

• Can I take my test outside?

• What's a serving of protein?

• What if I don't want meat today?

• Can I count tater tots as a vegetable?

• Does chocolate milk count as a protein?

• (Insert a hundred more "does ______ count . . ." questions)

That is all part of learning. And, all part of the reason we needed to do this. They don't willingly eat lots of fruits and vegetables. We haven't talked a lot about what a serving looks like recently. These are important life skills as well.

Some of the beautiful happenings that have come out of our goals this week:

• Nathan and Eli (who struggle to get along at times) spent nearly two hours outside in the field behind our house working TOGETHER to build a giant snowball and then came in and played board games together without arguing. It was a beautiful thing.

• Nathan is experimenting with his favorite snack/breakfast - two ingredient pancakes (banana, egg). He can now whip them up whenever he wants them, completely on his own.

• We went for a walk with little complaint (double dipping - exercise and time outside). Instead of asking when we would be done, they were eager to continue for longer than usual. 

 My hope is that these become habits. That before too many months are over, they assume that outdoor time and plentiful fruits and vegetable are a part of their lives. 

I want healthy kids, but I also want them to grow into healthy adults and sometimes they need some incentives to solidify good habits as part of their routine.