Top 10 Family Fitness Lifestyle Habits

Help kids fit in at least 60 minutes of fitness every day (for weight loss, maintenance, obesity prevention, and general health). That might mean 20 minutes walking to and from school, 15 minutes of physical play at recess, and 25 minutes of soccer, either informally or at practice with teammates. Make sure your child has the gear he needs to have fun and be safe (baseball mitt, bike helmet, etc.), but remember there are lots of ways to be active that require little or no equipment.

Encourage your child to eat five or more servings of produce a day. This helps crowd out less nutritious choices and gives your child lots of vitamins and antioxidants. Try the "rainbow challenge": How many different colors of fruits and veggies can he eat in a day? A week?

Set a good example for your child by choosing a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise yourself. You don't have to become a marathon runner overnight, but adding a walk after dinner or a yoga class in the morning helps a lot. Challenge yourself to use your car less and your bike (or your feet) more.

Swap soda for water, low-fat milk, or juice (but limit juice to 4 to 8 ounces a day, since it contains natural sugars and lots of calories). Encourage water as the go-to drink for everyone in your home.

Shut off the TV (or computer, or video game console, or tablet) after a max of two hours a day. This frees up time for more physical activity and can contribute to kids' weight loss.

Eating breakfast helps your child avoid snacking on empty calories later in the morning because she's "sooooo hungry." Provide a morning meal that includes whole grains, fruit, and protein. Skipping meals doesn't promote weight loss, for kids or adults!

Sufficient, restful sleep can actually help prevent weight gain in kids and adults. Plus, staying at a healthy weight and getting enough daily exercise can improve sleep. So make sure everyone in your home is snoozing soundly each night.

Yes, you can make healthy choices at restaurants and even your favorite fast-food spot, but it's a lot easier to control your family's fat and calorie intake if you prepare food at home.

Physical activity doesn't have to mean an organized team sport or class. Housework, yard work, and playing at the playground all get kids up and moving. So does asking them to teach you a new dance move or race you to the corner as you walk around the block.

Especially during puberty, kids need lots of encouragement to be active and move their bodies. Praise them for making small changes and for weight loss efforts, not results.