5 Easy Steps to get your family on board with intermittent fasting
Intermittent fasting. You’re familiar with it. You may do it. But you don’t want to go it alone.
In fact, you want your family to participate with you. You believe that if you get your entire family on board, you’d be able to stay on track and support each other throughout the process.
When each of your family members has different schedules — one child coming home from sports practice at 6 PM, your husband coming home from work at 5 PM — it can seem like getting your entire family on board for intermittent fasting is impossible.
But, it is achievable. I’m here to wash away your doubts and give you some tips. Here’s how to get your entire family on board with intermittent fasting — multiple schedules, events, and all.
1. Teach them the health benefits
Your kids and your partner may not understand why you want them to start intermittent fasting. So teach them! Let them know about all the health benefits of intermittent fasting and why it’s something you want to practice as a family. Once they understand what intermittent fasting can do for you all, they’ll see it as an appealing practice to add to their daily routine.
2. Create an IF schedule
There are plenty of time frames in which you can intermittent fast. Could the one that makes the most sense for you and your family be the 12:12 method? Maybe it’s the 16:8.
Use your family’s individual and joint goals to come up with an eating/fasting schedule that is easy and makes sense. You don’t want IF to become a pain for your family members. Sit down together to r outline your daily schedules and make a decision as a family on what times you’d like to fast and eat.
3. Make it appealing
Treat it like a fun family challenge for all of you. Make eating time mindful by intentionally choosing what you put into your body. . Add colorful, fiber-rich foods to your diet, to get the added health benefits of IF. Serve it along with your family’s favorite snacks. Or try revamping a beloved recipe to be more nutrient-dense. Remember, you’re encouraging them to do something for themselves and for their bodies.
Don’t forget to make it easy. Purchase foods at the grocery store that are healthier options instead of processed, greasy, or sugary foods. Accessibility matters to hungry children.
4. Toot the productivity horn
Maybe your husband has been complaining about feeling extremely tired at work. Or your child can’t concentrate like they want to at school. Teach them that intermittent fasting can help heighten productivity levels.
When you practice IF, you can feel more energized and more focused. If someone in your family is having trouble focusing , tell them about your experience. Then, ask them to try it out and check-in with them for their thoughts.
5. Eat meals together
Create a designated meal time that your family can expect to eat each night. Make it a time where you all sit at the dinner table and talk about the best part of each other’s day. This helps keep your family on track with IF. Bonus points: you get to spend some quality time with your loved ones at the table!
Put these tips to the test and you’re sure to persuade your family to join your intermittent fasting journey and ENJOY IT. Remember, it’s a learning experience for them and you’re their IF teacher. Tell them why and how. Most importantly — make it fun! Be a role model for your children. They’ll likely want to follow in your footsteps.
Once they understand IF and get excited about their health you’ll be gathering around the table, breaking your fast, and chatting about your day in no time!