Hi, Cleanish Squad!

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When I first decided to start making healthier changes in my life, I wasn’t prepared for the pushback I’d get at home. The kids were still reaching for their favorite sugary snacks, and Dustin wasn’t exactly thrilled about ditching pizza night. It felt like I was on this journey alone. Sound familiar?

I realized that forcing health changes on my family wasn’t going to work. It just led to resistance (and the occasional side-eye). So, instead of starting with a complete overhaul, I decided to take it slow. I introduced healthier options little by little, making things more fun and less about what we couldn’t have.

It wasn’t long before they started to notice how good they felt. Less sluggish, fewer cravings, and more energy. That’s when it hit me: it’s not about pushing my family into healthy habits...it’s about leading them there—gently.

Here’s how I did it, and how you can too:

5 Simple Steps to Get Your Family Excited About Healthier Habits

1. Start Small with Easy Swaps: Forget about eliminating everything all at once—that’s overwhelming for anyone. Instead, start by swapping out one or two ingredients in meals they already love. Switch sugary cereals for smoothies in the morning or use chickpea pasta in their favorite spaghetti dish. They’ll hardly notice, and those little changes make a big impact over time.
2. Make Healthy Eating Fun: If it feels like a chore, no one’s going to want to do it. So, I got the kids involved. I let them pick out their favorite fruits for smoothies or help “design” their own healthy pizzas with fun toppings. When they’re part of the process, they feel more invested and are way more likely to enjoy what they eat.
3. Lead by Example: I found that the best way to encourage healthier habits was to model them myself. I didn’t preach or nag—I just quietly made better choices. I started drinking more water, made healthier meals, and snuck in a workout when I could. Over time, they naturally followed suit because they could see the difference it made in my energy and mood. Plus, my food looked delicious, and they wanted what I was eating!
4. Don’t Label Foods as "Good" or "Bad:" One of the biggest things that shifted our dynamic was changing the way we talked about food. I stopped using words like "bad" for certain snacks or meals. Instead, I focused on balance. It was about finding a way to enjoy the foods we love in moderation without feeling guilty. It’s a lot easier to get the family on board when they know they don’t have to give up their favorite treats entirely. One of our favorite things to do is to go out and have a cheat meal together -- our go-to's are doughnuts, cookies, or pizza.
5. Celebrate the Wins—No Matter How Small: Anytime someone made a healthier choice, I made sure to point it out and celebrate. Did the kids grab water instead of juice? High five! Did Dustin suggest grilling instead of ordering pizza? That’s a win! Positive reinforcement goes a long way in making these changes feel good—and sustainable.

At the end of the day, getting your family to adopt healthier habits isn’t about perfection or strict rules. It’s about small, enjoyable changes that everyone can get on board with.

Trust me, if my family can do it, yours can too!