When the sun finally makes an appearance here in the UK, most of us feel inspired to give our health a little boost as the heat can make us realise how unprepared for summer we are! Not to mention how sluggish and tired we all feel when the sun zaps our energy in the first 30 minutes of the day! Whether you’re planning picnics in the park, beach trips with the kids or simply want to feel more energised day-to-day, it’s often the small things that make the biggest difference, and if it means giving my a little more energy to keep up with the kids this summer, I am all for it!
Here are a few simple ideas to help you and your family feel your best this season.
1. Plan Colourful Meals
It’s not about complicated recipes or fancy diets – just try to pack plenty of colourful fruit and veg into each meal. Get the kids involved by letting them choose new fruits to try or make rainbow wraps together for lunch. It’s a fun way to encourage healthy habits that stick. If they are reluctant to try eating different fruit and veg how about making them into drinks (freeze fruit into ice cubes and place these into water etc) or into smoothies that you can then freeze into cool and refreshing ice lollies (yogurt and berries make delicious ice lollies that my kids say taste like fruity milkshakes!
2. Stay Hydrated (and Make it Fun)
Sometimes drinking enough water can feel like a chore, especially for little ones. Try adding slices of cucumber, strawberries, or mint leaves to their water bottles (or in the form of ice cubes as mentioned above) for a bit of flavour and colour. Reusable bottles are handy for days out too. It is also worth investing in a good quality water bottle that can keep your drinks cold too as that way you will have cold, refreshing drinks available all day.
3. Make Movement a Family Thing
You don’t need to sign up for a gym membership. Try family walks after dinner, trips to the park, games in the garden, a family swim at your local leisure centre, or even a weekend bike ride. Summer is the best time to get outside and get moving, as there are so many more great places to explore that the kids will love, including trips to the beach that are both fun and get everyone moving! Moving more helps everyone sleep better, feel happier, and burn off a bit of that endless kid energy, and let's face it, anything that helps us sleep better in the humid evening heat is a winner in my books!
4. Keep it Realistic
Don’t aim for perfection – life’s too short for that, and if your kids are like mine, they are far to stubborn for too much change at once!. Focus on what works for your family and what feels good for you. It might be swapping 30 minutes of screen time for a walk around the block or swapping that afternoon sugary snack for some fruit and a multivitamin; every change you make is a positive one.
5. Add a Little Extra Support
A busy family life doesn’t always allow for perfectly balanced meals every single day. That’s where good-quality supplements can help. Brands like Naked Nutrition offer straightforward, clean nutrition products with no hidden nasties – ideal if you want an extra boost alongside your usual healthy meals without too much hassle or extra time needed.
Little steps add up over time, so be kind to yourself and celebrate the small wins.
Here’s to a happy, healthy summer ahead – with more sunshine than showers (fingers crossed!).
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