Ways for Your Family to Help.    

We all need help from our families.  This is even more true when we’re making lifestyle changes.  But our family members may not know how to help us.    

Listed below are some ways to help.  Check one that you’d like your family to begin doing or do more often.  Choose one that they may be willing to do.  

Ways to help me eat healthy:		Ways to help me be more active:	
9	Serve low-fat/calorie foods for meals.

9	Eat low-fat/calorie foods when I’m nearby.

9	Give me gifts other than tempting foods like candy.

9	Clear the table and put food away as soon as the meal is over.

9	Help with cooking, shopping, or cleaning up after meals.

9	Avoid offering me food, like second helpings. 
 
9	Avoid bringing tempting foods like candy into the house.   

9	Encourage me to cook new foods.

9	Praise me when I eat healthy foods, eat more slowly, leave food on my plate, or refuse a snack.  

9	Other:
		9	Go for a walk with me.  Or do other physical activities with me.

9	Plan social events around being active.

9	Compromise when my being active conflicts with your schedule.

9	Show appreciation when I do my scheduled activity.   Don’t remind me when I don’t.   

9	Babysit for me so I can take a walk. 

9	Set up a regular date with me to be active.

9	Encourage me to go out for a walk when I’m debating whether or not to go.

9	Try to achieve and maintain the DPP goals with me.  

9	Other:	
Write a sentence or two to a family member describing exactly what help you’d like.  Be specific.  

Examples: 
C	“It would help me if you’d get the dishes started after dinner so I can write down what I’ve eaten right away.” 

C	“It would help me if you said, “Great!  You went for your walk today!” whenever I go for my walk.  But don’t remind me when I don’t go.”

C	“It would help me if you didn’t offer me second helpings.  It’s just too tempting!”