Making Positive Changes

Getting Back On Track

Keeping healthy is not always easy and sometimes things get in the way. This is normal, what is important is that you try and get back on track.

Here are some suggestions that might help improve the amount of activity within your family and support you to make healthier food choices.

Activity

Perhaps you are struggling with motivation and ideas to get active. Below are a few ideas to get you started.

- What can you do at home? Dance, walk, movement DVDs or garden games.
- Walk, bike or scooter to the shop, park or school.
- Break up the time you are sitting - set a timer on your phone and get some fresh air.
- 5 - 10 minute bursts a few times a day soon add up.
- As you do more bursts of exercise you will get more energy.
- Park a bit further away from where you are going and walk some of the journey.
- Have a look on Active Norfolk for local activities.
- Will a friend come with you? Making a start is the more important thing.
- There will be others who feel the same as you.
- Make sure you choose clothes you feel comfortable in.
- You don't have to exercise at the busiest times or busiest places.

Find out more activity ideas to support you here

Healthy Food Choices

Here are a few ideas to help make healthy food choices throughout the day.

- Take a snack for on the way home or have healthy snacks ready and waiting for when you get home. Try chopped up fruit and veg or homemade popcorn.
- Make sure your child is not thirsty, offer a drink too.
- Talk to your child about making better choices – it doesn’t have to be perfect. Try and work together to make small steps.
- If they take money in to buy snacks, do they need this everyday? Can you compromise on which days they buy school snacks and which days they take home snacks.
- Plan ahead as much as you can - write a meal list and try and stick to it.
- Start by planning a couple of healthier days.
- Who else in your house could get involved with planning meals and snacks or cooking?
- Takeaways are fine once in a while but they are unhealthy to eat often. Remind yourself that by cooking you are saving money too.
- Get into the habit of regular mealtimes as a family. This way everyone knows when they will be eating.
- If you don't already, work towards eating together every day.
- Plan meals together as a family.

Find out more food ideas to support you here

Who can Help?

If you are really struggling to make changes and would like some support, you can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.

If you are 11-19 you can text ChatHealth on 07480 635060 for confidential advice from one of our team.

To speak to other Norfolk parents and carers, you can join our online community forum below.

Click here to speak with other parents & carers

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