One of my favorite classes here at Mill Valley has to be Health with Health teacher Amy McClure. It’s something I never expected to like yet I find myself so fascinated with learning about nutrition and good dietary habits. Not only has it inspired me to make healthier choices but it inspired me to encourage others to do the same. But the change might not be as easy for me as it is for everyone else so here are a few tips on how to be healthy around a family with unhealthy habits.

1. Do research. Look around a library for books on health or look up healthy recipes online. There are a lot of fast and easy recipes that can also be cheap as well, you just have to look.
2. Ask for healthy foods from grocery store. Experiment with different fruits and vegetables to see what you like. There’s always stuff out there, even for the pickiest eaters.
3. Eat in moderation. This can be a tricky one because a lot of people’s problem is they eat when they don’t need food. People will eat if they’re bored, sad, etc. If you’re feeling hungry drink a glass of water first and think about how hungry you are. Depending on your hunger level, portion out a reasonable snack or meal and make sure to stop eating after you’re full, even if there’s food left. It’s okay to save it for later or throw it away.
4. Exercise. This is an obvious one, but a lot of people don’t do it. Exercise can be fun; it’s not necessarily going and running for three miles straight and dying. Try out new exercises like weight lifting, dancing, martial arts, Pilates or yoga. There are so many options out there including some people haven’t even heard of.
5. Don’t let your family’s habits affect you. It makes me sad to think about this, but in some families a kid might get made fun of for changing their lifestyle by becoming healthier. I certainly hope this doesn’t happen to anyone, but the sad truth is people are afraid of what they don’t understand. Your family might be confused as to why you’re choosing to live differently than how they raised you. Show them how to live healthier and explain to them your choices. If you’re feeling especially brave, cook them a healthy recipe and get their feedback.
6. Replace any unhealthy drink (especially soda) with water. Water is essential so make sure you drink plenty of it.

If your family can’t afford healthy foods, you can still use a lot of these tips. Find out your healthiest options and stick to them. Making the switch to be healthy can be tough at first but throughout your journey you’ll find that it is a very rewarding experience. Stay healthy, Mill Valley.