Luckily, healthy living is not as difficult as it sounds. The trick is to start making changes slowly. There's nothing worse than incorporating drastic changes into our lives and the lives of our children. 

For starters, try scheduling in merely 15 minutes of family time after dinner. Everyone could go for a nice walk around the neighborhood, go down to the park and shoot some baskets, ride your bikes or take a dip in the pool. The actual activity you choose is not important. What is important is the doing. See, that sounds easy enough, doesn't it?

** Just do it!  Get moving, every little bit counts! **

Now for the food. How many times per week do you frequent fast food places or order food out? How do your food choices compare with the healthful choices mentioned in the article "Nutrition for a Healthy Diabetes Lifestyle", found on this website? If your lifestyle is pretty regimented and you tend to eat out a certain number of times and your food choices tend to be high in fat and calories, try eliminating one night out. I realize cooking may seem like a big hassle some days but it's really not difficult to come up with a quick, healthy meal. 

Besides, eating home as a family adds more quality time with your children and usually means healthier meals. 

Okay now for the test. What are you doing after dinner tonight?

Part   I   II   III   

Is there really a problem?
Possible causes for this increase
What can we do about it?