Healthy Harold's Family Challenge

Healthy Harold's Family Challenge

When was the last time your family had a meal together without TV or mobile phones? Went for a walk together? Tried a new fruit or vegetable?

More than half of Aussie parents have confessed to being "told off" by their kids for unhealthy habits, according to new research.

Highlighting the need for families to adopt healthier habits, the release of the research comes as Life Education and healthcare group Bupa Australia launch Healthy Harold's Family Challenge, calling on families to dedicate one week to healthy living.

The Challenge involves families spending a week tackling tasks to promote nutrition, exercise, family time and general wellbeing - such as limiting TV to 30 minutes a day, switching fruit juice and fizzy drinks with water, going on a family walk, or building a veggie patch.

Iron Man Guy Leech and triple Olympian Nicole Livingstone were among the first to sign their families up to the inaugural challenge, with the help of Australian lifestyle icon Healthy Harold at the launch event held at Maroubra Bay Public School.

Bupa's Health and Wellness Advisor, Guy Leech, believes the Challenge is timely given recent, revealing research on the health habits of Australian families.

"A recent survey conducted among 500 parents showed that more than half (51%) had been told off by their children for doing something unhealthy, and almost one in five parents admitted they were not a healthy role model," said Guy.

"However, 78% of parents agree that it is very important that their children are taught at school about their body and the importance of healthy eating, the effects of smoking and peer pressure, and 92% talk about these issues with them at home as well."

Nicole Livingstone, triple Olympian and mother of three, is excited to be joining the Challenge with her family:
"We're all guilty of taking not-so-healthy short cuts. For me, the Challenge will be a fun way to encourage my family to work together and re-evaluate what really matters - spending time together and looking after each other," said Nicole.

"The Challenge is a great way to start family conversations, and a useful tool for turning good intentions into positive actions. As parents, if we take the lead and set a positive example, some of the healthy habits may stick for more than seven days!"

David Ballhausen, CEO of Life Education Australia, said Healthy Harold?s Family Challenge built on the life skills and messages children were learning at schools through the Life Education program and gave parents the opportunity to reinforce Life Education?s important work.

"More and more, kids are having a say in what goes on in their family each week, and if they are choosing healthy options the whole family benefits. We also know that "doing? is the best way of learning. This is a terrific opportunity to put positive choices into practice at home where they can be reinforced by parents and friends in a fun way", he said.

What does Healthy Harold's Family Challenge involve?
The Challenge is open to families across Australia, with parents encouraged to register their family to participate via www.healthyharoldsfamilychallenge.com.au.
Families select a week within the school term to complete the Challenge and each child and adult selects two nutrition challenges, two healthy activity challenges and two social challenges from six options. Each of these challenges must be completed each day of their selected week (unless otherwise specified).
Examples of challenges include using the computer for homework only, going for a 30 minute family walk and trying two new fruits or vegetables you've never tried before.
Families will also choose one group challenge to complete during the week.
After families choose their challenges they set a fundraising target. Every dollar raised will help the ongoing development and delivery of Life Education's vital programs for Australian kids.
The Challenge will commence in August 2011 and run each school term for a 12 month period.
Families who participate in the Challenge can enter the draw to win a number of prizes including a family holiday to Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, XBox 360 Kinect and fitness game pack and a number of other prizes. Importantly, all families who participate will benefit from making positive choices in a fun way which may lead them to make long term healthy changes to their lifestyles.

The Challenge will run each school term for the next 12 months. Families interested in participating in the Challenge should go to www.healthyharoldsfamilychallenge.com.au.

In addition to making healthy lifestyle changes, the Challenge is an opportunity to raise money for Life Education through fundraising and participating families could also win a range of prizes including a family holiday to Dreamworld on the Gold Coast.