Your family's lifestyle isn’t too healthy- you eat takeaway several times a week; your kids are often glued to their electronic devices; no one in your family plays sport; getting the kids to bed early is a real struggle.

It all seems to hard!

There’s so much to think about- what your family eats, how much your kids exercise, how much they sleep, the chemicals they're exposed to.

And it feels like being healthy is too expensive- organic food costs more, is harder to find, and tastes weird.

I get it- I’ve been in that position.

While I’m not here to tell you that it’s all going to be easy and overnight your family will become a poster family for good health, I’m here to offer you a way to get started.

The journey begins with one step- that’s all you need to do. You need to make a simple decision and follow this through with action.

You can choose one small step, and from there, you will start walking in a different direction.

Here are some easy ways for your family to start being healthy- ways that you can get some “quick wins” that will motivate you all to keep going on your health journey.

Make a food swap

For a healthier family, you don't need to clear your pantry of junk food and give up all take=out right away. The best way to begin is to find a healthier substitution.

Love sugary drinks like soda? Swap it for something healthier like a freshly squeezed juice or a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon.

Parents, do you drink five coffees a day? Drink fewer, and swap for a juice, herbal tea or cold water.

Find a healthier recipe for take-out food you love. You can make your own nachos, fish and chips, pizza and burgers but make them with natural ingredients. There are so many recipes out there- check out Pinterest!

Ditch the chemicals

Learn how to make your own cleaning products. This is one of the easiest ways to cut chemicals out of your life. There are many different recipes using natural ingredients such as baking soda, essential oils, salt, vinegar and other pantry items.

You can start off by using vinegar to wash your windows at home!

Read the label

When you’re grocery shopping, read the labels on packets to find out the ingredients in the food you’re buying. Often, finding out what you’re REALLY eating is enough to motivate you to change. Or you could surprise yourself and find healthier brands!

Learn how to cook

Don’t feel overwhelmed if you can’t cook- start off with one small, simple meal and build up your skills over time. Learn how to cook an omelette, boil some rice, steam some vegetables or grill some meat.

Involve your kids! Get them to cook with you. My daughter loves crumbing chicken when we make chicken schnitzel.

Learning how to cook means you’ll be able to create healthy meals from scratch without resorting to frozen food or take-out. It’s the most important step to eating a healthier diet.

Walk a few blocks

Your kids might not be used to exercising, so why not walk a few blocks together? Getting outdoors as a family is a great way to bond and improve your health.

Once your kids get used to walking, they might like to try a family bike ride or even a game of catch at the local park.

Read

How does reading make you healthy? I’m not talking about reading a trashy romance or crime novel. Read everything you can about healthy lifestyles- about food, our bodies, how we can improve our wellbeing, how we can make our homes healthier etc…

You can visit the local library to find healthy lifestyle books aimed at kids- there are many of them!

The more you read, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you will be inspired to make even greater changes than the ones I’ve listed here.

These suggestions are simple, quick and mostly easy to try. You don’t need to throw out all the food in your pantry just yet, nor do you need to buy a gym membership. Small, simple steps that will keep your family happy and motivated to continue on your brand new healthy journey!