Good diet program for whole family?

[tara]

What's a good diet for the whole family to follow? I want me, my husband and my two kids to be in better shape. I know that being active is important but I also know that a healthy weight starts with eating the right foods and watching the amount of calories you ingest. What's an easy and positive way for me to enforce a healthy lifestyle when taste buds are hardwired to prefer junk food?

[bigbobby]

I would recommend either the step diet or following the stop light diet, where it teaches you what foods are good (green) are okay (yellow) and should be avoided (red). These diets are easy to understand for all ages.

[Nelly]

I also think the stop light diet is good one. You can also try vegetarian or mediteranean.

[Gina]

I'm a fan of the step diet. It really lays out what sized portions of what type of foods should be on your plate and by letting you know you should get at least 10000 steps a day, you have a basis for exercise. I would recommend - if possible, - to get every one a fitness tracker, this way you can keep track of your exercise and talk about it together. same thing, sign up for a program like Spark People or ShareFit and track your food progress. When you get everyone into the habit of caring about their health and tracking it, the process should become normal and you might see more success :)

[ChristySmiles]

I also recommend trying the Mediterranean diet. In fact, before you even do that, why not try a little challenge with your family. Start by cutting out extra sugars (e.g. juice, pop, excessive treats, etc.). Work on portion sizes, avoiding seconds, turning to healthy snacks when you're hungry and choosing to make family dinners at home instead of ordering in or eating out all the time. Essentially it's about making eating healthy fun and a habit and making sure you and your kids know that a treat is a treat and shouldn't be a habbit. I would also encourage drinking more water and walking or engaging in physical exercise whenever possible. In fact, a great way to encourage physical exercise is to play sports games with the family outdoors, etc.

[Tiff]

Focus on cutting out extra sugar, making your own food (eating out less) and engaging in regular exercise. This includes walks or even taking part in fun activities like ChristySmiles suggested.

[kellykatt]

How's it going Tara? Did you actually find a diet that works for you and your family? I'm curious because my sister is actually looking to do something similar with hers and I was telling her about your curiosities regarding it and was wondering if you've followed any of the suggestions here and what your thoughts and advice may be since you've picked something. Thanks and Happy New Year!