Leading a heart-healthy lifestyle means changing your daily routines. There’s no easy way to manage that without involving your family and you wouldn’t want to. After all, the very same changes that can lower your risk of heart disease will give the rest of your family the same benefits. So making these changes is good for everyone.

Kids can be especially resistant to changes in routine, but don’t let that discourage you. If you can make each change into an adventure, rather than an unpleasant necessity, they may just follow along without much of a fight. And you’ll be setting them up with heart-healthy attitudes that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Physical Activity

Maybe calisthenics aren’t going over big with the little ones. Then how about a good game of tag in the back yard or a race around the house? And if you don’t have the space outdoors – or if the weather isn’t cooperating – any staircase will offer the same benefits of a step machine without paying for a gym membership.

Heart-Healthy Diet

Given a choice, most kids will pick a fatty, sugar-rich snack over fruits and vegetables. But you’d be surprised how quickly their young palates adapt to new taste standards. Start by getting the junk food out of the house so it won’t be around for you or them. Then try substituting fruits, juices and low-fat yogurt for snack time. If you make that switch successfully, try adding other good things to the mix: raw carrot sticks, quickly cooked broccoli and cauliflower with a yogurt dip, or either raw or toasted nuts.

Quitting Smoking

If you’re trying to quit, share your reasons with the whole family. You may be surprised at how receptive your kids are to facts about the dangers of smoking. Their attention to your progress may make it easier for you to stick to your plan. And, best of all, you’ll be setting an example for them so they’ll never start smoking.