Reward YOURSELF, and YOUR kids, with non-food-related prizes!
Food is a delightful part of life to be enjoyed and celebrated! However, it doesn't have to be the only reward in our lives. It's not that I don't ever use edible rewards, it's just that there are other ways. By using non-food rewards, we can reduce the strong focus of food in our lives.
Often achieving whatever it is you're rewarding yourself for, weight loss or athletic performance success, for example, IS enough of a reward. Still sometimes, early on and even after a long time (when burnout threatens), rewards can hit the spot to keep us going! Rewards can be an effective way to encourage positive behavior in ourselves, as well as in children.
Here are some examples for YOU:
1. Buy yourself FLOWERS, or go pick some from your yard or the wild!
2. Buy a new BOOK, audiobook, or magazine, or borrow something cool from the library!
3. Get a MASSAGE from a salon, your partner/spouse, or have your kids climb all over your back! Plus, this thing is totally AWESOME! Homedics Percussion Massager
4. Get a home FACIAL cream and use it!, or cook a sweet potato, remove skin, mash potato, stir in a 1/4 c plain yogurt, and when cool enough, apply to your face to SMOOTH and MOISTURIZE!
5. Go to a MOVIE at the theatre, or get one from the library!
For your KIDS:
1. Take them to a NEW playground.
2. Find a CRAFT of whatever they desire (robot, zebra, fairy) and make it with them ...use an image search, and you'll be sure to find an idea that you can do with what you have in your home!
3. Let them CHOOSE a video or show to watch, or an electronic game to play, like Wii or something on the computer.
4. Let them stay up "past their BEDTIME" to do something fun, like play dress up with you!
5. Allow them to invite a friend to come over for a PLAY DATE.
Here are two resources with more ideas from 100 Days of Real Food and from Eat Smart Move More NC! Happy motivation to all!
COMMENTS: How do you treat yourself? Your kids?
