That time we made a TV commercial

Brought to you by Bupa’s FoodSwitch App.BUPA-1

Do you mind if I get a little bit deep with you for a moment?

It’s probably no surprise to you, but I called my blog Fat Mum Slim because it was originally going to be a weightloss blog. I was going to lose my baby weight {ahem, OK life weight}, post inspiring before and after photos and my life would be changed.

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Losing weight is something that’s been a challenge for me all my life. It’s not a sob story. It’s just the reality. It’s something I actively work on, and will work on my whole life. Health is a priority for me, and for my family. The weight stuff aside, I do love my life. I feel lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world, be married to my best friend, to have beautiful, healthy children, a super enthusiastic dog, and a job that I love doing. I feel lucky. I don’t mean to brag but I do feel very fortunate.

The honest truth though; if there’s one thing that puts a dampener on all that good stuff, it’s my weight.

Since having Luella I’ve managed to lose 18 kilograms, and I’m still working on it. I exercise regularly, eat well, with a little cake now and then {I’m human ?}, and I have aspirations to run again. I’ll get there. Health is important to me, but most of all it’s important for me to be a good role model for my girls, and but also help them live the healthiest, happiest life they can live. As a mum, all I want is for my girls to live the healthiest, happiest life they can possibly live. Part of that is helping make sure they don’t have that struggle with weight that I’ve had. It’s helping them have a beautiful, healthy relationship with their bodies, and making sure they know how to nurture themselves nutritionally.

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That’s what we all want, isn’t it? Happy, healthy kids. As a family, we’re always exploring and having fun together; being active, and going on adventures. When it comes to food, we’re all about beautiful good food, with a treat now and then just to keep things balanced. I’m a busy mum, like the rest of us, and sometimes the juggle can be a struggle.

As someone who is a little bit obsessed with Apps and making life easier, it probably won’t surprise you that earlier this year I discovered a new App that helps with the juggle. It’s called the FoodSwitch App. I don’t know about you, but I consider myself to be switched on, but even the supermarket shelves can be overwhelming. Organic. Paleo. Low-fat. Low-salt. My mind is like, ‘JUST TELL ME WHICH ONE IS BEST!’ That’s why we love FoodSwitch, because it does just that. You can scan the barcode of a product, and it will tell you {using a really easy to understand system} which product is best for your family.

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I like to think I was choosing the best foods for my family when I was doing the grocery shop, so when I first got the FoodSwitch App I checked out a few items I already had in the pantry, scanning them and seeing how many green lights they got. Some products surprised me, others I was already choosing the best for my family. It helped for writing shopping lists for the next grocery shop.

The FoodSwitch App has a number of options within it too, including GlutenSwitch, which gives you Gluten-free food options. Depending on what your focus is you can use SaltSwitch, FatSwitch, EnergySwitch, or SugarSwitch, so it works for everyone and their dietary requirements. The App is free and available for iOS {iPhones} and in GooglePlay too.

You can imagine the surreal feeling that happened earlier this year. One month we’re using the App, and then a few months later there’s a whole film crew set-up in my garage, and we had a film crew following us around the supermarket. SURREAL. I worked with Bupa to talk about how we use the App in our lives, and how I use it as a tool to make our lives better.

It was a super, big stretch for me, you probably know I don’t like being in front of the camera, so this was a giant experience for me. A challenge. A leap. Oh my. I’m so nervous even writing about it all now.

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You can watch the clip below. My favourite bit is Lacey stealing grapes in the back of the car. And Lulu’s little face as she puts the bananas away. We’ll cherish these clips forever. Such beautiful moments in time. I still can’t believe we had a film crew at our house, and a catering truck out the front. It sure got the neighbours talking!

You can explore the FoodSwitch App here for yourself, and have a little fun at the supermarket. My hot tip is to try a few products in the pantry at home first {your five most used foods} and see if there are any other better alternatives out there for your family. It’s fun.


I’ve got a great treat for you now. I’ve got a $500 VISA card up for grabs. One person will be able to hit up the supermarket, use the FoodSwitch App to shop better for their families, and spend big. Simply answer the following question in the comments before to be in the running: How do you help keep your family happy and healthy?

One entry per person. Open to Australian residents only. Competition closes September 30th at 11:59pm. This is a competition of skill, and the entry judged by Chantelle Ellem {Fat Mum Slim} to be most creative will win.

 

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124 thoughts on “That time we made a TV commercial”

  1. Awww what a cute little snippet of your littles….the bananas! It was a lovely ad. Also, I love the sound of the app. I could improve our healthy eating that’s for sure. I keep my family healthy by offering fruit and vegetables before other things when they are hungry and looking for a snack ( which is often boredom!) xx

  2. Aww that was wonderful!! How precious! 🙂 Good for you, stepping outside of your comfort zone and doing something that challenged you. thumbs up.

  3. I ensure that we eat balanced meals and more fresh ingredients so I have chopped up vegetables and fruit in the fridge always ready and homemade pre-made meals so there’s no excuses to have something else. But also allowing that small ‘naughty’ snack sometimes so that we don’t deprive ourselves and want more of them.

  4. When I am happy & healthy the family feel the full benefit. I make sure that my shopping list reflects a healthy diet for us all. By eating well, I am motivated to move more and that makes us all happy too.

  5. Getting the kids involved with the whole process & LEARNING how to cook, as these are life skills that they will have forever whether its a an egg or a souffle
    .

  6. My husband has high cholesterol even though he’s slim and fit so we’ve changed to a ‘mostly vegan during the week’ diet. I like experimenting so it’s been fun and we have lots of fresh veggies, but I use the FoodSwitch app to check for well balanced processed foods when we need them, I love it 🙂

  7. Homemade treats
    Always trying to be active
    Popular foods to keep my kids interested
    Positive thinking
    Years of perseverance in eating healthy and exercising

    Achieving goals and celebrating them
    New beginnings
    Dinner debates on what is best vs what we really want (chocolate)

    Habits – making good choices
    Eating out occasionally
    Appreciating what we have
    Love
    Time out – for mum and kids
    Homemade meals
    Yummy treats occasionally
    My ingredients for a happy and healthy family
    Amanda x

  8. After two touches of cancer and a stroke between us, I like to make food from scratch, time and budget permitting. Hubby had high cholestrol so that means more fruit, more veggies and more meatless meals and less sugar and processed food, but cake. Because what is life without cake? And we move more and get out and exercise, often together… Win, win! Anyhoo, I love the ad, especially you being in it. If i had known, I would have asked for your autograph at the stage door because you SO famous and just like the genie, you’re magic!

  9. It’s a daily challenge, but I find inspiration at the Farmer’s Market, as I like to cook and serve whatever is seasonally fresh. I scan various apps, blogs, and magazines for recipe ideas, and I keep cut-up veggies, hard-boiled eggs, and hummus on hand for quick snacking; and there’s always fresh fruit, almond milk and yogurt to make smoothies. Weekends we treat ourselves to a home made sweet treat, and I usually use less sugar than the recipe states. I also keep a large pitcher of water infused with lemon and mint, or cucumber and lime to keep us hydrated. We’ve also grown rather fond of nut butters (almond, cashew, peanut) served with cut up apples or pears. Weeknight meals I concentrate on protein/veggies (chicken, salmon, tilapia, occasionally pork tenderloin) and Friday night is pizza or pasta night.

  10. For 20 years my life partner lived with diabetes so I had to be mindful of what recipes were lower in sugar. Holidays came around we’d switch to fresh easy recipes that you could rustle up in our caravan as we’d venture to Kingscliff to sail kites or surf and swim to keep actively happy. Little lifestyle changes in rethinking what to drink instead of softdrinks last year lead me to whip some amazing smoothies with fruits, maca, kale, cacoa and coconut water so good I had to instagram them. Weekends my sons love to whip up cakes. Happy kids are ones that take part in the whole cooking process from shopping to sharing the wonderful recipes with family.

  11. Living with food allergies, I’m always reading labels to make sure they’re safe and healthy for us to enjoy as a family. I’m very aware of fake flavourings and additives that could make me and Miss 2 sick. Much of what I cook is from scratch. Having a toddler with a selective diet (some might say fussy!), it makes meal planning interesting. We try to make healthy food choices, eat a healthy dinner as a family every night to set a good example, and make sure she and I eat a healthy breakfast of cereal or oats to start the day with lots of energy. To make life a little easier, I try to plan two bulk cooked meals for through the week made up of lean protein, lots of veg and some grains like rice. Often the slow cooker gets a work out. We’re not perfect though. I will admit Hubby and I have takeout one night a week so we get a little break from cooking. Sometimes, on weekends, we might splurge snd eat cake. We are only human after all.

    While hubby is at work, Miss 2 and I try and get out and keep active. We walk to the little parks in our suburb, or we’ll drive to the bigger parks to run around and explore for an hour or two. I’ve always had a vitamin D deficiency, so this is a great way to make sure I’m getting natural vitamin D, as well as both of us getting fresh air and exercise, and feeding Miss 2’s little mind new experiences. ?

  12. We try to get outside at least once a day to run around for a bit and get some fresh air. I remember having a pretty active childhood and want the same for my kids. We also spend lots of time in our vegie garden and try to use as many fresh, home grown herbs and fruits as possible ?????

  13. Last year I became a bit overwhelmed by the responsibility to be a healthy example to my children. I was a lazy couch potato who loved to do NOTHING and my kids were noticing. I then decided to go for a run… I first ran/walked to the roundabout and then to the shops and I kept on running. Last month I ran my first half marathon and last Sunday I ran my second with hubby who has started running too. It’s lead to fuelling my body with better foods, drinking more water and getting more sleep. My kids have noticed and commented on these changes [mum, why are you drinking so much water now?]. I have not lost weight [it’s the one thing I want to change too] but my kids have seen me step outside of my comfort zone and persevere with doing it even when I don’t want to kick goals out of the park! What am I doing to help keep my kids healthy? I’m leading by example…one slow kilometre at a time!

  14. We try to eat a whole foods diet and live by the 80/20 rule. Eat well 80% of the time so we can enjoy our 20% when we have a party or outing to go to. My husband and I are very active with sports and going to the gym and hope as our little boy gets older he will also enjoy and active lifestyle. I love to cook so it helps with cooking healthy, yummy and fulfilling meals for my family.

  15. laughing until your crying is our way to be , jumping , running and tickling until we are all rolling around on the floor . Love our crazy family

  16. I found meal planning worked really well for me. I can plan healthy meals at the start of the week and buy all the ingredients and then there is no stress during the week that we have nothing for dinner

  17. If it’s not raining we walk or ride to where we need to be. We’re able to smell the flowers along the way too!

  18. We eat fruit for snacks and treats. It seems to be what our girls go for straight away in the fridge. We live in the tropics and love to swim, as well as get down to the foreshore for a bike or scooter ride for the girls, while we walk along. x

  19. I try to abide by the meat and 3 veg rule for every dinner… Even if we can’t eat peas because… Well it’s Tuesday and apparently my son hates them today!

  20. Meal plan. Plan breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Then shop accordingly. If you’ve got all the ingredients on hand to whip up quick, healthy meals then you’re much less likely to grab takeaway or junk.

  21. Lovely little add Chantel, you are very lucky to have that keepsake.
    I try to keep my family healthy not only by providing healthy home cooked food (only and always) but also teaching them about nutrition and how to listen to their little bodies. It’s all very well and good to eat healthy because Mum cooks that way, but if kids aren’t taught about nutrition from a young age, they are going to stumble when they go out on their own. I try very hard not to separate foods into ‘good’ or ‘bad’ lists, rather I teach them about what value a certain food has for us (that avocado on toast is helping your heart grow strong and fuelling you for a day of playing!).
    Also importantly I try to get them to tune into their bodies. So many adults I know are so out of tune with their hunger signals, or when a food doesn’t work for them. I know it took me years to figure that stuff out. The best gift I can give my children is the ability to listen to their own personal unique bodies and honor what they need. Some days it might need a brownie! Some days a green juice. I get them to listen to their bellies and stop just before they are full. In this way, nothing is off limits (well, maybe additives and preservatives) but I trust my children to know when enough is enough.
    Its a tough balance though! And there is always room for mistakes along the path of learning! We just dust ourselves off and try again.

  22. I help to keep my family happy and healthy by spending time together!!! We eat our home cooked meals together, play games together and go for walks to the park together… I’m even hoping to join my boys at karate when I get my health back on track ? I have recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, so meals are a bit tricky at the moment, but I’m sooo lucky that my two beautiful boys and one amazing husband who are all very understanding with the rather ordinary meals I’m dishing up at the moment ?

  23. I keep my family happy and healthy by being there for them, spending time with them, listening to them. We’ve recently dealt with a loss in the family and it really taught us there is nothing more important then the head and now, and family. It’s brought us all a lot closer.
    We’ve been part of the same hockey club for the past 18 years and that’s definitely helped us keep healthy – we not only have the sport, but also outstanding encouragment from everyone in the club which helps us keep up with being active and eating healthy, as well as keeping us happy.

    I think happiness helps a great deal with being healthy.

  24. Keeping my family happy is easy just spending time together from playing with them after work, doing crafts on the dining table or bubbles outside and on weekends on adventures walking looking for fairies and animals. Healthy is sometimes hard we eat well most of the time but this year battling the flu and colds and whatever else is thrown at us has been hard but staying together and getting through it all is all that matters.

  25. The kids know about healthy foods and sometimes foods and that they need a certain amount of veges and fruit each day (they sometimes tell me), so i just try to vary meals so they don’t get boring and find that letting them dish it themselves helps ie bowl of salad or chopped up veges for taco’s anything on a stick fruit kebabs, vege kebabs they love it. We just go out for walks or bike rides for fun, never refer to it as doing exercise it’s just something we do regularly so they don’t see it as a chore.

  26. Letting the kids join in with cooking, exercise and something that makes us feel good. We try to do this every day. The kids help to choose what we would like to eat and discussing if there may be better choices (yes, sometimes we do have treats) then to their ability they help with food prep. We have a jar of fun things to do that is actually exercise in a fun disguise. We have turns in pulling out an “exercise”. This could be trampoline games, scooter rides, scavenger hunt at the park. The easiest part is being happy. The kids are always at their happiest when they are with mum and dad.

  27. To get Miss Fussy to eat healthy I try to make things sound exotic and plate food up in exciting ways!! Like apple and yoghurt becomes “apple fingers with a side dipping sauce of creamy vanilla yoghurt”.
    We make time to play as a family with ball games being the best exercise and the best bit is you don’t even realise you are doing it 🙂

  28. All it took was cutting out sugar. Who knew?! It was easy then to eliminate salt, bad fats, additives, etc, as we were already eating fresher, less processed food. Simples!

  29. What a precious commercial! That’s a keeper all right. My kids are grown, so my best tip just for me is to cut out alcohol. Useless calories, and then I like to snack on top of have a drink or two.

    I have to share the amazing realization I had this morning. I’ve been meditating with an app called Headspace, and I’m working on self confidence. I realized that I think pretty highly of myself overall (lol!), but there is a negative cloud around me due to my weight. It’s not words so much, as just a dissatisfaction. So this can be negative self talk too. And it weighs so heavy. Who knew?! I’m 51 and just figured it out.

    You’re doing a lovely job with your girls, and you’re going to get to where you need to be. <3

  30. Good on you, Chantelle! This is a great initiative to support. I like the idea of ‘switching’. I try to choose well by filling up the trolley first at the fruit and vege section as well as buying healthy but beautiful cookbooks. A good dose of inspiration from these usually helps to get me and my family on track!

  31. I ensure my kids see me doing yoga / other exercise every morning, that we are all drinking a lot of water, I make green smoothies daily, we grow heaps of our own fruit and veges and herbs, buy fresh organics from local markets and we try to walk/ride kids home from school as often as time ( and QLD weather) permits

  32. My kids are involved in grocery shopping, cooking, and come with me to fitness classes, family walks, and watching daddy play sports. I just want it to be a normal way of life for them 🙂

  33. By keeping a good balance between fresh food and packaged. And not missing out of the odd sweet treat now and again. 🙂

  34. A balance of good, fresh and healthy food, thrown in with outside exercise/play with a dash of naughty food every so often ?

  35. I try to cook from scratch most of the time to minimise preservatives whilst still catering to my fussy people’s tastes! I also try to incorporate lots of different colored fruits and veggies in our diet. I also do alot of veggie hiding in spag bol!

  36. Meal planning, without a plan we would not eat as healthyly and well as we do. There is a secondary upside of saving money by not buying food that you are not going to cook 🙂

  37. What a gorgeous keepsake Chantelle. We once had the ambulance in front of our house – that got the neighbours talking! – all good though. I could bang on for ages about how I keep the family happy with my positive psychologist hat on (perspective, problem solving, gratitude, hope, resilience, optimism) but we also focus on positive relationships, family, being outdoors (nature = wellbeing), pets, physical activity (trampoline, football, bike riding, hiking), laughter, love, exploration and fun 🙂

  38. Cute ad! For me, it’s all about planning and lists. I recently bought a little bamboo whiteboard for the fridge – I separate it into two sections: shopping we need and meals for the week. So at any given moment I know what I’m cooking that night/week and I can jot stuff down before I forget. That has changed my life because since having Charlie I basically have a brain like a sieve (good for cooking, not so good for thinking :)) I also try (and often fail) to cook a week’s meals every Sunday arvo. If I manage it, it’s also a lifesaver and the whole week and witching hour just feels easier!

  39. Beautiful ad, and your girls are growing up so fast! Good on you for your honest post and for always trying to choose best for your family. xxx

  40. I love the ad and stop and watch it every time it comes on. Your girls are so natural in front of the camera. I got the Food Switch app after seeing it and use it very regularly at the moment trying switch the huge amount of “box food” my son eats.

  41. Planning. Making sure I have a bit of a balance for the week to keep everyone happy in what they do, and don’t like (not easy with a 1yo and a 6yo), and making sure we make room for those special treats. I hadn’t heard of this app before but it looks awesome and actually helpful not just mumbo jumbo that leaves you questioning every decision you’ve ever made as a mother!

  42. Beautiful ad❤️ I keep my crew healthy and happy by teaching them to breathe, be grateful,live in the moment and not to sweat the small stuff. We eat lots of veggies, treat ourselves ( this is my favourite part as my sweet tooth is the biggest!) and try new foods when we can. Im not perfect, some days we eat McDonald’s but we enjoy it when we do! Everything in moderation! ❤️

  43. We haven’t started our family yet, but I am already working on making sure my children get the best chance at a healthy, happy life. I have struggled with my weight my whole life, even battled an eating disorder, and now I am on the path to a truly healthy lifestyle. I work with my fiance to make healthy choices and exercise regularly, I already use the food switch app and I am about to start working with a nutrition and exercise coach, so we can ensure our new healtby habits are well and truly ingrained before we are role models for our children.

    They deserve to have a great start and I am doing everything I can to make sure they don’t struggle the same way I did.

  44. We meal plan. My partner works away a lot and I’m on my own with the kiddos. Healthy meals are cooked in bulk and frozen. I also stay healthy by making fresh juice instead of going to the cupboard or fridge for a snack. The fridge is always full of fruit so my kiddos are always welcome to a healthy snack ???

  45. I loved the ad it was just gorgeous. How do I keep my family happy and healthy? I keep them healthy by ensuring they eat a balanced diet – including the fun stuff too. Life’s too short to not have the good stuff! Finding time to have fun with the kids and just being silly with them is something they love. I cherish every moment spent with them because I know they’ll be all grown up soon enough!

  46. I have a fussy 2 year old so for me food/eating can be stressful! I recently bought a Thermomix so try to make food from scratch using whole foods with lots of hidden veg lol. But this is a small part of being healthy because I believe that the best way to be healthy is to be happy. So our family spends lots of time together, exploring new places, enjoying each other’s company! I love my beautiful daughter husband & extended family. They are my World!

  47. I find it is a one for all and all for one approach. From very early on my family, children (now 8 and 10) and adults all visit the local markets and local butchers and we plan our meals around what is available and in season. It is also great to support the local and smaller business and often better for the hip pocket. The children help prep their breakfast and lunch and even tea. I find if they cook it and choose it they are more likely to eat it. Everyday we do some exercise by walking the dog and we eat together for breakfast and tea and only miss lunch as they are at school and I’m at work. We only allow take away once during the school holidays and the kids look forward to this as a special treat. I’m hoping that they will continue these practices as they grow older as I remember my grandparents and their farming days and how hard the farmers have life. Not everything has to come from a box from the supermarket, we live in a great country that produce some wonderful high quality food.

  48. what works for us is getting our kids involved in food – real food and where it comes from, they spend time on farms and we grow things at home, we let them choose what to have for tea and help make a list of ingredients, we also explain “junk” food and why it’s only for parties and special occasions, i was determined to improve my kids eating habits compared to mine growing up ?

  49. Honestly, if I don’t want them to eat it, I don’t buy it. Simple! It takes the stress out of those “I’m starving Mum” moments, and really simplifies feeding my family. Life is hard enough already, without tempting fate!!

  50. My 3 boys and I all enjoy playing the awesome game of Oztag! My 2 youngest play together on the same team & my eldest plays & has also represented his town at state cup & will again next year with his brother. I also play in 2 divisions plus coach the really little kids & my younger sons team & am the local development officer as well. Just the like the saying, the family that plays together..stays together!! We all love our Oztag! #gettaggedyoullloveit!! ?

  51. I buy a lot of fruit and kid friendly veggies and my kids know they have free reign on that stuff if they’re hungry. We don’t keep a lot of chips or other packaged snacks on hand, partly because I’d be prone to eating it myself but also because the kids really don’t need a lot of it. They love fruit, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, snowpeas and all those things as well as popcorn that we make at home. They still get packaged/treat food but it’s not an every day thing.

    Oh, and I sacrifice myself and any chocolate or ice cream that comes in this house is mostly eaten by me after their bedtimes. It’s a tough job, this Mummy gig, but someone has to do it. *lol*

  52. Meal planning! With a FIFO hubby it’s very easy to stray into ‘unhealthy ways’ when he is home for the week so I make sure we have a plan in place for dinners and have the shopping done for the week ahead so it’s all there ready to go! Becoming a mum this year has shown me that I need to be super prepared to be successful in what I want to achieve (*ahem* losing those pesky extra baby kilos!) Its also made a bit of difference on the hip pocket as less takeaways and more money to spend on treats and special outings as a little family!

  53. Variety! The girls are two and three and they eat what we eat – yes, there’s the occasional slack night (pizza or some hot chips on the side) but typically we eat everything, so when they see Mum and Dad eating, they want the same thing! If we are their example, then we have to ensure we eat right – and we all end up happy and healthy!

  54. We usually live by the mantra ‘If you don’t buy it, you can’t eat it’ i use a list to shop with and i read labels on any new items i’m buying, i mostly try to steer clear of preservatives ?we have 5 kids and keeping them all happy food wise is TOUGH, as long as we have pasta, tuna and cheese, 2 kids are happy, lots of fruit and veg another 2 are happy, honey soy chicken chips and the 5th one is happy, tea makes me happy and beer makes daddy happy LOL sometimes the kids love everything and sometimes they hate it all, i have learnt the more fussing over what they eat the more it becomes a problem ?

  55. I get the kids involved to pack their own lunches – everything from baking a healthy muffin to making sure we pack fruit, dairy and a protein packed lunch. We still have treats – a treat is a treat not a lunch box item, in our house we have dessert night on Friday night. But we are all doing the best we can, aren’t we?

  56. Iv just downloaded the app!! Such a fool idea!
    I tend to browse the net, look at blogs, follow Instagram accounts that have easy healthy recipes I can cook my family.
    I find the more colours, the more inviting for my kids. So anything fun, healthy, simple and inviting gets the big ✔️ Of approval from me! ?

  57. Love the ad Chantelle. Your girls are gorgeous! I think we’re all pretty good at doing our best to ensure our kids eat healthy- it’s more about making better choices for myself these days. I’m a big believer in balance and allowing ‘treats’ but recently I’ve decided I need to eat more like an adult haha for example treats are things a cappuccino instead of a black coffee or home made cacao energy balls etc and not chips, chocolates or lollies. I guess the app would help make these choices easier. I’ve just downloaded it. I also started something I call the 20minute mind over matter self talk. May sound a little crazy but if I really want something like chocolate I put it out on the table and make myself busy for 20 minutes. If I’m still ‘thinking about it’ (or salivating over it) after 20 minutes then I have it. If not, I put it back in the cupboard and save it for another time.
    I also try to make sure I don’t have my phone/iPad/tv on when my daughter is awake so I can play with her. Now that makes us both happy ?

  58. We keep our family happy and healthy by keeping an active lifestyle, organising our weekly meals, eating healthy and spending lots of time together. The Bupa FoodSwitch App definitely helps us pick better food choices.

  59. To keep my family healthy and happy food-wise, I plan meals for the weekly shop so that we eat healthy meals each night. By doing this, it makes the nights out / off the menu fun and exciting and not just a go-to when life gets a bit much.

  60. I keep my family happy and healthy by getting the kids out of the house each day, lots of play, a pet cat to love, a good probiotic for everyone to take ? along with a fairly well balanced diet, and lots of family time on the weekends, playing tourists in our own city ?

  61. apps! they really seem to be the way of the future for helping people lose weight! we’ve been using food trackers, exercise trackers and the foodswitch up for a while, of course we are always reading the nutrition panels on what we buy (yeah, you know .. “those people” you see in the aisles at the supermarket! but for us, it’s all about just being sensible and being active! get out and walk, don’t have ‘rubbish’ in the house because if it’s there you’ll eat it! that said NEVER ever completely deprive yourself .. girl’s gotta eat cake sometimes! x

  62. It’s a balance of nourishment, mind and body. I focus on what they can have, rather than what they can’t. My 6yo and 3yo are very competitive, so we make it a game to eat 3 different veggies and 2 pieces of fruit per day. My husband and I do bootcamp 4x a week and we take the kids along so they can play in the park around us. It doesn’t feel like hard work, just good habits. Each night, we read together, hug before bed and they’re reminded a million times how much they’re loved 🙂

  63. I’ve been a stay at home mum for 16 years so keeping the family happy and healthy has always been my thing. Food, safety, sickness is the easy bit. You buy good food and cook good meals and keep them fed. You ensure your home is clean and tidy and safe. You stay up all night emptying buckets and keeping them hydrated with hydralyte when the dreaded gastro hits. How else do you keep your family happy and healthy though? I make sure my kids spend lots of time outside, with their friends, with other family members, forming relationships and strengthening them. We have animals to care for. We watch silly movies, tell silly stories, and spend hours battling each other on just dance (I am still the reigning queen). My years of personal therapy for my own mental illness have helped me in teaching my children to be nicer and more respectful of those who struggle, to be giving and beautiful souls.

  64. Variety! Try and change things up a bit, so it doesn’t become boring and mundane! Also looking at different places to explore together for exercise.

  65. Staying happy and healthy is all about BALANCE:

    Believing in yourself,
    Arranging your meal plans in advance,
    Looking to the future and not to the past,
    Always having a smile on your face,
    Nurturing yourself and your loved ones,
    Cooking fun and nutritious food, and;
    Enjoying life to the fullest.

    Oh and reading the FAT MUM SLIM blog. That always makes me happy 🙂

  66. My kids do after school sports, mostly in shorts. We eat Green beans but definitely no lean cuisines. Mum keeps fit by Running around after the 3 little frogs, ok, you got me, it’s more of a jog!

  67. My best way to keep my family happy and healthy is by taking care of me too. I too often lose myself in the craziness of motherhood, the routine, the housekeeping, being a good wife, role model and mother.

    So now I prioritise me. Sometimes it’s an extra long shower or a day out with friends. Sometimes it’s a delicious home cooked meal and sometimes it’s letting someone else cook.

    You can’t pour from an empty cup and I ensure I keep mine full. So I can help keep my husbands and children’s full ?

  68. We grow as many fruit & veg that we can and our boys love to tend the garden and watch our produce grow and happily devour it all! A great meal plan and cutting out quick trips to the shop oh and don’t forget the weekly treat!

  69. Love the ad.
    We meal plan and stick to what is on the plan…do not get me wrong I love a good triple chocolates muffin and I still make them I just hide veggies in them so I do not feel as guilty for them.

  70. I love to choose fresh, wherever I can. Fresh fruit, vegies, make fresh dinners, make fresh choices, try to keep things from feeling stale in our living, including how we spend our time and making sure we get fresh air and sunshine too. It’s simple, and that makes it easier to stick to, and much less complicated.

  71. My partner and I are both 3 years post op from weight loss surgery, so for us, it’s high protein, low carb recipes in this house, with a LOT of chicken, as it’s easier to process. We don’t eat a lot of vegetables, but I am slowly increasing these. The big thing for us, is of course portion size, no more huge plates in this house, dinner is served in small kids sized bowls and on bread and butter plates!

  72. Congrats on your ad. That’s amazing. I get my 2 boys to try something new everyday. Whether it be a fruit or veggie, a Multigrain bread, soup, etc. They both have a chart and get a sticker just for trying it. If they don’t like it then so be it, if they try it again another day, then that’s another sticker, if they continue to eat it on a regular basis then they get a small reward like a book or craft activities. My eldest son is Autistic (high functioning) and he has actually made up his own chart with a list of foods and he will check them off according to his taste hehe. A big Green tick if he likes it, a big red Cross if he doesn’t, a comment column as well as a bonus column if he does really well with certain foods ☺. Both of my boys have very bad gag reflex, so they do struggle with A LOT of food, but the chart is really helping to keep them trying. I also do bootcamp every night and my boys are forever on the go with swimming, bike riding and playing ??.

  73. I keep my family happy and healthy by teaching them how incredibly miraculous and amazing their little bodies are. I remind them of just how powerful their minds are, and that when they make strong and positives choices for their mind, body and soul , then health and happiness will follow. And then they can enjoy some cake!

  74. A present is wrapped
    And a party dress on
    We head out the door
    To have some fun
    The one thing we do
    before we head out
    Is eat a nutritious snack
    No doubt!
    Get some carrot sticks in there
    And hommus too
    Fill up nice and strong
    So there is less room.
    For while cake and chips
    Are tasty as treats….
    Our family are full
    And small servings we eat!

  75. Happy? With my rediculously awesome sense of humor.. And endless amount of love and support.. Healthy? I make them run laps around the backyard, while I supervise and drink wine. Because, grapes. You know?

  76. What a beautiful keepsake! Such a wonderfully done add. I put on way too much weight when I had my son. I had really bad MS and the only thing I could eat was plain chips or takeaway. I know right. I ended up buying mountain bikes with my husband and we try so hard to get out with our daughter and son (I take Mr 4 in the bike trailer! That’s burns the legs :p). The youngest has food intolerances; I see it as a massive blessing as we HAD to learn to eat better. We have to make everything from scratch as he can’t tolerate any artificial ingredient (there is heaps in food!). We definitely have changed into a fitter healthier family. That app is really good too!

  77. We try! Our kids love to be involved. Our older two who are 8 and 9 know how to cook two meals each. They do the chopping and seasoning. Eventually I will get them helping shop for the ingredients! They love it. I hope that giving them the skills to cook good wholesome food from a young age will help them when they go out on their own and have to make the choices of what they eat.

  78. What a fabulous experience for you! I like to keep my little family healthy by only having good ‘real’ food available. I volunteer at an organic co-op produce supplier so that I can afford to have a large and varied selection of fruits, vegetables and other pantry staples that I normally wouldn’t be able to afford on a single mumma income. Vegies are definitely my number one for keeping myself and my children healthy.

  79. I have insulin resistance, so we try to lead a sugar free lifestyle (i’m strict, the kids not as much). I use the app often, it’s really handy for those weeks I’m not going to have a chance to cook or bake from scratch – which is more often than i’d like, because, work, kids, life…

  80. By doing weekly shops at the supermarket and fruit shop and always having good food in the fridge ready to be eaten. We also ditched takeaways! It took a while to get out of the bad habit of home delivery take away dinners, but now we wouldn’t go back. Home cooked meals are tastier and cheaper!! Can’t wait to download the food switch app!

  81. Balance is the most important thing in our house – fresh fruit and vegetables, yoghurt and cheese, meat and grains. My son has his own fruit and vegetable garden, which we tend to every few days and include in our meals. And of course, the occasional ‘special treats’ as we call them (yum!) Likewise, there is a balance between quiet iPad time (about 20minutes but only a few times each week), and heaps of activity – playing in the yard, walking to the park, playing soccer, camping and being active outdoors. Hubby and I both do sport (combinations of netball, squash, walking and running) a few times a week, and sometimes the kids come watch. And to top it all off, is the conversations and the learning – whether it’s cooking fresh food together, tending the vegetable garden, or talking about physical activity. It is the combination of both our words and our actions that will teach our 2 sons how to make healthy decisions for themselves – while still being able to have special treats!

  82. My girls are practically grown women now, but when they were little I tried to reinforce the importance of healthy food choices to them from when they were very young. They drank mainly water, or milk, with a very occasional juice or soft drink. Healthy breakfasts and school lunches were always my priority. I never, ever bought sugary breakfast cereals like CocoPops or Fruit Loops. That was one thing I was a complete fanatic about – as far as I was concerned they were a treat that Grandma could give them when they stayed over at hers, they weren’t for everyday eating at home. I used to tell the girls – those cereals are like eating lollies for breakfast, and we don’t eat lollies for breakfast when we need to fuel our bodies with healthy food for the day ahead! And school lunches were always a healthy sandwich or wrap, a piece of fruit or some carrot or celery sticks, sometimes with a piece of home baked cake or a biscuit. Tuckshop was a treat every so often but I made lunches most days. One of the things I’m most proud of is that both my girls are regular exercisers – participating in sports at school, and as young teenagers I got them coming to the gym with me, which developed a passion for fitness in both of them that I feel they will carry forward well into adulthood, I think activity is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle, along with a good diet full of real foods covering all the major food groups. I have a history of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in my family, and I don’t want my girls to suffer as I’ve seen some family members suffer. I hope I’ve managed to get them off to a good start with some good life habits that will minimise their risk of ill health and disease.

  83. I feel like I don’t? My husband is the one who makes sure I drink water and eat fruit etc.
    I’m 26 and still have the teenage mentality that I can eat anything and sit around and have no consequences.
    But I’m always tired and depressed and I KNOW it my diet….
    Time for some motivation, help tips and a life change ?

  84. My boy is only 14mths so for me its super easy. I haven’t introduced any foods that are considered bad as yet and he loves his fruit and veges, so I have the diet part taken care of.
    For me its all out getting out and getting as much Vitamin D as possible and staying active, which with a toddler includes a lot of chasing and fun at the parks & just general interaction.

  85. It’s taken a while but I’ve realised I’m the key… When I’m happy and healthy everyone follows suit! This happens for a couple of different reasons – when I’m happy and healthy I’m a great role model they see what I’m doing and want to do the same whether it be gardening to grow our own fruit and veggies and de-stressing in nature, making yummy from scratch meals, sitting together while we eat and having a chat about the day and all its good and bad things to just having a good belly laugh! The other supper important reason is that when I’m happy and healthy I have more energy both physical and mental to engage with them and do more things that help them and teach them to be happy and healthy.
    It really is like a wheel (not the boring treadmill type we normally associate with getting healthy) but the one that when you get on it just keeps going around and and one good thing leads to another. Often it’s starts rolling slowly but once you get momentum it just keeps going and it just gets better and better!

  86. Very cute ad.. How beautiful. I pack a healthy picnic and go to new beaches we have never been.. A little hiking to get to secret spots.. or we go to our favourite beach.. We walk and collect shells or we swim and play beach sports. I introduced my kids to good food at a young age and brought them up on good homemade home baked food. Food that you know what goes into it… So much nasty sugar in food these days. Thankfully they have a healthy love of good foods.

  87. I too struggle with with home and work life so for us travelling and exploring keeps us happy and healthy. I also aim to cook meals instead of takeaway. I recently went to a seminar and came to know that we have been making some wrong choices like school snacks. This is all a learning process so I will check the app out. Thanks

  88. We cook everything from scratch we are cutting our preservatives and sugar and all the unnecessary stuff that processed food puts in your body. We educate our kids on the correct choices to consider when choosing foods to eat and involve them in the cooking and meal planning. We are active and encourage our children to be active play outside and enjoy their play and active time as a family.

  89. In our house we talk about what different foods do to your body and how different foods make us feel. I don’t deprive my kids of treats because… well let’s be realistic! Sometimes a carrot just wont cut it! But my kids are happy to eat their fruit and vege’s at meal times and when the occasion calls for it we share a treat!

  90. Bouncing and jumping and playing outside,
    Running so fast we pretend that we fly!

    We explore far away lands, and far into space.
    To keep our brains in a happy mental place.

    The food we eat we treat with respect.
    We learn how it affects our bodies every aspect.

    A lifestyle of fun and silliness too.
    Coupled with yummy healthy foods, is what we do 🙂

  91. For me meal prep is vital if i dont have snacks prepped i get lazy.my kids are amazing and happy to eat nutritious food.i have to have routine or my life goes chaotic.this voucher would mean the world to me as my family are really struggling at the moment and not able to afford luxuries or anything extra to enjoy.my kids are troopers and im so blessed they arnt materialistic.id spend it on them to give them a surprise and my daughter a very 1st birthday party

  92. Cooking mainly from scratch, minimising processed foods and making sure we spend lots of quality time together as a family with a good dose of silliness, laughter and fun. And, finally, making sure that our kids aren’t over scheduled and that they get plenty of time to just hang out with friends, play and just be kids! After all, as the old saying goes…we are human beings not human doings ?

  93. I meal plan and make pretty much everything from scratch. Pesto, sauces….even our taco seasoning! We try to get to the farmers market as a family when we can as well and show the kids all the beautiful fruit and vegetables. We eat together as much as possible. The biggest thing is only keeping healthy food at home and then the occasional treat when we are out.

  94. I’ve struggled with my weight since my first child was born 11yrs ago. It is something i work on daily, but rather than spending weekends in the gym away from my family, i incorporate my workouts with our family “adventures”. We often seek out a beach side path, or a hike in the mountains and we choose the most challenging track so i can show my children that yes mummy is out of breath, and yes this is difficult for me, but i enjoy this time with them and i don’t want to miss out because mummy hates a few 100 stairs (Ha) often those challenging tracks lead to a very beautiful life memory that means so much to me and something i know i will cherish once they flee the nest and spite cursing myself the whole way down the stairs, knowing that i will have to climb every single one on the way back, those weekends are still by far the best moments we spend as a family.
    My best workouts are the ones i spend with my family, they are the most encouraging and support souls i will ever need.

  95. We like to encourage variety and balance. It’s good to keep little minds open to trying new things and everyone should be able to enjoy cake now and then!
    I hope my children will learn to enjoy all food in moderation without the guilt and stresses that they can be associated with. And always, plenty of fresh air, excersise and water!

  96. Health is a massive priority for my family, we all really love food, and we are trying to teach our children (Max 6, Archie 4, Minti 1) that food is fuel, and that they need to choose the right fuel for their bodies to do all of the wildly adventurous things that they want! This can be a struggle when fussy eating comes into play, but we encourage them to overcome that with trying one new food a week, and 9/10 they love it!! Having a healthy relationship with food, and their bodies is paramount. I think the best thing I do to help my family be healthy and happy is to lead by example, if they see me eating a variety of wholesome foods & enjoying being active then they follow, but I also want them to know its okay to enjoy an ice cream on Friday night too!!!

  97. Since my daughter got fed a home made cupcake with brightly coloured icing after which she went very hyperactive the next day, I have done my best to limit the amount of sugar she eats by not buying processed food items. 2 years on and I’m still not sure if it is excess sugar, additives, preservatives or food colours that affect her behaviour so cooking mostly from scratch with loads of fresh fruit and vegetables. I also explain that lollies aren’t treats, they are chemicals and food colouring to her and a treat is a punnet of fresh blueberries that she can eat all on her own as they are usually to expensive not to share a punnet over a day or two served with other fruit!

  98. Sounds a little over the top but I write down every meal for the week. Mostly because I know that on Wednesday or Friday my toddler will be hungry and I will completely forget that I have some frozen pumpkin soup or spaghetti in the freezer and I’ll probably just grab the first thing I can find. And to be honest, it’s not always the healthiest option! So I write breakfast lunch and dinner for everyday and a list of snack foods which will include things I make on Sunday’s like muffins and bliss balls. It stops me from going to the fridge, then cupboard, then fridge and making poor choices. I prep as much as I can on the weekend so rush times like daycare mornings or late afternoons are taken care of. Also stops me from saying “what do you feel like for dinner?” to my partner. Now I just say “we’re having this!”.
    When I plan, I don’t stress. And when I don’t stress, we all live happily lol

  99. I’m definitely going to try this app! For me keeping my family happy and healthy is all about balance. I’ve struggled with my weight for years since having my daughter (she is 10!) and it took me a long time to figure out that eating/being healthy isnt just living off salads and carrot sticks for ever its about balance and moderation. Its about choosing foods that are healthy and nutritious but also eating some cake now and then! You should be able to enjoy your life and the food you eat without feeling guilty about it! If you can maintain that balance then being healthy and happy is a piece of cake ? or a salad lol

  100. Meal planning is my biggest saver – not just on money, but if you know what ingredients you’ve got and what you have to do at 5pm, you’re not so tempted to just get a quick takeout fix after asking everyone ‘what’s for dinner’…

  101. To be happy and healthy in our house we have to make it fun. They help prepare food, learn ‘always’ and ‘sometimes’ foods and we juice everyday. They love to chuck the fruit and veggies in. Our favourite is the dinosaur juice which is spinach, cucumber, ginger, apple and pear. Yum!

  102. I keep the family healthy by reading the nutrition panels on every product. I have used the food switch app many times to opt for a healthier choice. I drink lots of water and eat mostly home cooked fresh foods.

  103. With my two little girls I concentrate on “healthy” rather than “slim” or “thin” and I absolutely NEVER use the word “fat” to describe someone. I take care not to self-loathe in front of my kids and I make sure that if I change up my diet to try to lose some weight, it’s never about how I look, but about “being as healthy as I can”. It works too. Both my girls have such a great body image and are so confident in their own skin … Confidence I wish I’d had all my life.

  104. My kidlets are fickle creatures. One day they like something, the next it’s “the most disgusting thing in the whole world, mama!”
    I find the best way is to give them loads of choice but make it good choice. It gives them an element of control and I don’t have to worry about what they’re eating.
    $500 would just cover their strawberry and blueberry needs 😉

  105. I just try my best to have fruit on the table, less processed food and make sure I’m eating the best I can to set a good example. Baby steps right 😉

  106. Beautiful ad!! I have four children and it’s always on my mind to be healthier and something I always try to keep working on. The one thing that I always say is to have balance, that’s what makes us happy. We are always trying our best everyday but we aren’t perfect, and that’s ok. We like to get outside, be active, find better choices where we can and enjoy a treat as well.

  107. Happy and healthy as a family for is is just spending quality time together as often as we can, and quality time alone!, and eating and enjoying everything in moderation.

    We dance around the living room laughing like idiots a lot of the time but also spend a lot of time outdoors, even if it’s just in the backyard – playing soccer, jumping on the trampoline, in the cubby, hide and seek etc and we’re just getting back into riding together too now that the kids winter sports are over but that means 2 X kid carriers and for mummy to get fitter so she can ride more than 100m without having to stop for a breath!

    And when it comes to food, all the younger kids help unpack the car and put the groceries away after shopping (1.5, 4, 6 and 12) and we look at what we have and talk about the meals, or snacks, we might make! Reiterating sometimes foods and all-the-times foods and everyone regularly gets a chance to help mum or dad meal prep (even if it takes longer to make and longer to clean up afterwards)!

  108. I’m due to give birth to my 3rd child in 2 years tomorrow so we have been in survival mode for a while – the Foodswitch app sounds like a lifesaver!

    I try to keep my family healthy and happy by playing with the kids every day and giving them a variety of foods. We’ve just moved house and can now sit together as a family to eat meals and I can see the huge improvement of eating together makes in our health and happiness!

  109. I’m a bit like you, I’ve never been in a situation where I haven’t had to watch what I eat constantly. I had twins and our youngest daughter in 2 years and did really well while I was pregnant, I had terrible morning sickness and really craved good food, as soon as I came home with 3 children under 2, it’s gone down hill. I think I’m the biggest I’ve ever been, I home cook everything but I don’t eat well. I eat the scraps of the girls plates or I eat at the kitchen bench. I find myself up at crazy times with the girls, all three don’t sleep through and Imstarving by 4 am. Recently, I read that not sleeping doesn’t help with weight gain so I’m trying to address that too, slowly exercising more and being more vigilant about what I eat. I’m going to try the app hopefully I can make better choices for my family and me

  110. With a Type 1 diabetic in the house, it’s important for us to have a healthy, balanced diet. Knowing that serving the wrong kind of foods could have awful consequences makes it easy to stick to more nutritious foods.
    We try and keep as active as possible, especially on weekends with bush walks, board paddles and kayaking. Walking to and from school helps too, and at just over 1km one way, I’m not going to lie, Pokemon Go has been a great incentive to stop the kids from grumbling about the distance, haha. The more they walk, the more eggs they’ll hatch, the more Pokestops they spin, the more Pokemon they catch. Winning 🙂

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