As 2026 approaches, many of us are thinking about health goals. This year, why not mix things up and involve the whole family by setting goals together? After all, accountability is half the battle and if the whole household is involved, it might be easier to honor your commitment to better health.
Sounds good, right? So where do you start? If you’ve ever searched online “get healthy as a family” the number of articles and perspectives can be daunting. But keep it simple by focusing on these three areas:
Eat Better: Aim for an overall healthy eating pattern that includes whole foods, fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olive and canola. Have a picky eater at home? Don’t give up. Continue to offer healthy foods and with time, they may just come around. And, if you’re looking for recipes, the American Heart Association has a variety of kid-friendly recipes on recipes.heart.org.
Be More Active: Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week plus, muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weights) on at least 2 days per week. Kids should have 60 minutes of physical activity every day, including play and structured activities. Taking a family walk at night, going skiing on the weekend or having a dance party indoors are easy ways to spend quality time while staying active.
Get Quality Sleep: Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Children require more: 10-16 hours for ages 5 and younger, including naps; 9-12 hours for ages 6-12; and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18. Adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function and reduces chronic disease risk.
Taking small steps to better health can add up to big changes over time and leading your family by example is a great way to show that healthy habits are important.
Find information about improving health and wellbeing from the American Heart Association at Healthy for Good | American Heart Association.