How do you keep your family active and healthy?

My kids are little so it's pretty easy at this point. As long as they get to play they're running! As far as food goes, I buy as much organic as possible and I cook as much as possible from scratch. For the most part, we don't buy processed foods. We do use some shortcuts like jarred pasta sauce (which has really high sodium) and frozen meatballs from Trader Joe's, but once things settle down I plan on making those myself. (We just moved into our first house, we're having a party or holiday even at our house every two weeks until the end of the year and we're having another baby in December!) I'm a stay at home mom so except for my husband going to school, we don't really have a morning rush. I make breakfast most mornings, usually breakfast burritos or eggs, bacon and hash browns. I make a lunch for my husband which is usually a sandwich on whole grain bread, an apple and a granola bar. Around 4:30 or 5:00 I start making dinner. When I don't feel like cooking I'll make something easy like pasta and meatballs with salad, when I do cook I'll make a casserole, green chile chicken enchiladas, soft tacos, etc. My kids love vegetables so we always have something, even if it's just steamed broccoli. If we don't, my daughter asks for it. For the most part we don't have soda in the house, I usually prefer an organic sparkling juice drink instead. (Although I'm pregnant, so I do give in to some cravings now and then.)

My husband and I didn't grow up with the best nutritional habits so we've made a point to do things right for our kids. They're toddlers now so that just means giving them time to run around outside and having them eat as many different kinds of healthy foods as possible. As they get older we'll stress the importance of physical activity and will continue to give them healthy foods (neither of which my family did for me, which is why I'm about 40 pounds overweight).

In my case i began replacing alot of what we eat with healthier low cal stuff. Example instead of regular bimbo or whatever type of bread I changed to healthy life bread, instead of ice cream I get the yogurt tubes and freeze them or fruit chillers, when I make eggs now I put more egg whites vs whole eggs, more water no pop, regular mayo for mayo with olive oil, ranch dressing for light ranch dressing, etc. My boys are involved in sports and they have been losing a lot of weight and they enjoy themselves. My husband wants to start going running with me but we still havent found the time for him to do so he has been working lots of OT.

Activities
1) I look for 5K runs hosted by schools and communities. They usually have a Run/Walk too as part of the festivities for families and younger kids. They're usually on a Saturday and as the weather gets cooler, there will be more taking place.
2) I take the kids to the park after homework and dinner right before it gets dark. It's not too hot or cold outside yet and just let them run around and play at the playground.
3) Community cleanup projects are physical activities as well as helps teach about helping others and taking care of where you live.
4) Ride bikes together or push my kids on their bikes if they're too young to ride alone.
5) Bowling alley or skating rink. I try to have a night out in the middle of the week like Wednesday to break it up. You don't have to have all your fun on the weekend.
6) Swimming classes or open swim at my local rec center.

Healthy eating
1) Microwaveable vegetable steamers. Add to any meal. I even add them to pizza night. Yes, cheese pizza and steamed broccoli go together.
2) Air popped popcorn. It's loud and fun to watch!
3) Water races. We get maybe 4 oz of water and see who can finish it first. This is obviously for older kids. Beware that even too much water at one time can be harmful.
4) Cut out sodas and juices. Don't even buy them. Leave these for special dining out nights. Try Crystal Light and similar. Their Fruit Punch tastes like Fruit Punch. only 5 calories.
5) Automate my meals so I know what we're eating each day of the week, and what snacks are available.
6) Don't by sugar and salt. Try honey and Mrs. Dash.

I hope this was what you were looking for and it was helpful.

my kids are young (5, 3 and 1), and for us it's about introducing them to the idea that activity is just a part of life. my oldest will sometimes come with me when i run (she'll ride her bike alongside me, but it can be a pain in the *kitten* because sometimes i have to push her). but we go to the park, play chasing games in the garden, soccer, and just general activiry stuff.

as for diet, we try to be as healthy as we can, but we're also on a really tight budget. nothing organic passes my kids lips (unless it's grown in the garden)- just can't afford those prices. but we eat alot of pasta and rice dishes, and often boil up frozen veg then blitz it down and put it into the food we have, just for extra nutrients. of course my kids get sweets and chips too- we could be better. but without bribary we have nothing!

With my three year old he always wants a "treat" when I go grocery shopping. Instead of bringing home a candy bar, etc, I started buying him a special fruit that wasn't on my normal list. I always bring home apples, bananas, and then one other fruit of whatever is in season and cheap. But then I will bring home one thing that is special for him - a mango (he loooooves those), a kiwi, raspberries, etc. He also looooooves the gogurt (but we buy the store brand) yogurt tubes and we stick them in the freezer, and he gets one of those as a treat - I think he thinks it's ice cream!

Just last week he rode his bike and I was running and we did three miles together! I definitley had to slow down my time for when he needed a water break, etc. But it was SO rewarding to have him out there with me, having fun, and doing something good for our bodies. I was so proud of him for doing so good, and felt good to spend that time together. And, because he is a boy, we paused to check out the dead snake on the side of the country road. lol He even told me that next time he wants to try to run too! lol

Well my daughter likes to play the Wii dance games, as well as boxing, bowling, and tennis. . . Other than that we eat lots of fruits veggies and lean meats. . I know you said that your diet is pretty healthy at home. . .My daughter likes to run. .. so she runs a lot at school as well as playing. . .

Going to parks is always good. . .Wish you luck hon.

I've always had a bowl of fruit out and fresh veg in the fridge(sugar snap peas, carrot, peppers). My daughter knows she can help herself to these whenever she wants.
She likes toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds as a good snack.
She's started the c25k with me. She's nine. She's much faster than me!
When she was smaller, we did active stuff every day - going to the park. Walking the dog. Swimming together.
Also activities that are fun and physical are good - she does gymastics, swims, rides, plays netball and basketball at school.
Hope that helps.

When we are on holiday (abroad) we go for long walks most days. The children do a fair bit of sport at school, so I only really make them do stuff in the holidays, I take them to soft plays so they run around, and for walks around the field by our house. We go to the zoo a lot (a couples of miles of walking), and they do dance lessons, and rugby.