New Year, New Habits: A Family Approach to Health in 2025

By: Nikki Rapaport

Development Director – School Engagement

Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Monroe County

The holidays have come and gone, and a new year is here.  And if you're like many, 2025 will be THE year to get healthy.  Taking steps to be healthy can be overwhelming, especially if you do it alone.  So, this year, why not mix things up and involve the whole family by setting health goals together?  After all, accountability is half the battle; if the whole household is involved, it might be easier to honor your commitment to better health.

Sounds good. So, where do you start?  If you've ever googled "get healthy as a family," the number of articles and perspectives can be daunting. But keep it simple by focusing on these three areas of health:

1. Eat Better: Aim for a healthy eating pattern that includes whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olive and canola.  Have a picky eater at home? Don't give up.  Continue to offer healthy foods; they may just come around with time. And, if you're looking for recipes, the American Heart Association has variety of kid-friendly recipes on heart.org. 

2. Be More Active: Kids should have 60 minutes of physical activity daily, including play and structured activities.  Taking a family walk at night or having a dance party indoors are easy ways to spend quality time while staying active.

3. Get Healthy Sleep: Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Children require more: 10-16 hours for ages five and younger, including naps; 9-12 hours for ages 6-12; and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18. Adequate sleep promotes healing, improves brain function, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases.

Taking small steps to better health can add up to big changes over time, and leading your family by example is a great way to show that healthy habits are important.

Need more resources to help keep up your healthy resolutions as a family? No worries, the American Heart Association has tools and resources, such as the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, that help kids create healthy habits. Learn more at www.heart.org/getstarted.