This isn't a strict competition. If you've been around Trim Healthy Mama for awhile, you know that it's about food freedom, not rules. We aren't trying to make the kids miserable if they aren't at all used to eating THM style. Just making some new good choices are a good achievement for some families. Other families that are used to eating on plan, will sail through. The goal is usually not to get your children to lose weight, but to feed their body healthy fuel to keep it going and growing!
The first thing that I think would be beneficial is to read or re-read chapter 14, called Family Friendly. (also pages 17, 24, 63, 67, 108, 116-118 all have helpful info for feeding the kiddos.) It might be a fun read aloud for everyone so they can get the idea. Maybe a family dinner night that is all on plan and food the children love would be a great time to talk about it as a family. Try to make it fun! I know there will be some kids (insert mine) that will NOT exactly be super excited about doing THM, but it will be a great learning experience for them and hopefully some changes that will stick in our house and yours! I've been on plan for over 3.5 years mostly on my own. Shan joined me in June and he's been sticking to it pretty well. Now...it's time to work on the kids! Muahahaha.
Guidelines:
- Try to stick with the basic plan. Kids are welcome to eat Crossovers! In fact, they need plenty of them. Most folks don't want their kids to lose weight, unless there is a legit issue there, so please don't neglect mixing the fuels for growing kids! I've even seen kids that had a few pounds to lose that have gently lost even eating Crossovers.
- Take a fun before picture of the family or those doing the challenge if it's hubby and wife and email it to us. shanandjen@ahomewithpurpose.com ( Please keep the picture family friendly and modest.)
- If you are in weight loss mode, weigh those family members in and even do some measurements. Many times we lose inches when we don't lose any pounds! You don't need to measure all the kids unless they think it's fun. The teens may enjoy it if they have a few pounds to lose. E-mail those beginning weights and measurements to us. shanandjen@ahomewithpurpose.com
- Sign up! You must sign up below to be entered! I will give each family or couple until the 2nd, since I am a bit late in posting this.
- Take a family walk or bike ride. Go to the park together. Go hiking! Do something that gets everyone moving together and having fun at the same time.
- If your kids are used to pop or soda, have healthy drink options on hand like Zevia, Bai5 or some other on plan pops. There are quite a few options out there now. Pop is so filled with sugar that it will be so good for them to get it out of their diet!
- Buy fun water bottles for them to use and challenge them to drink a certain amount of water per day. Make a chart and have them mark it off for each cup they drink!
- Juices- Bai5 has some great juice alternatives as well. Think of making them some healthy on plan smoothies to try! Many bloggers have slushies on their websites. Make it fun! Mamashire.com has some fun drink options!
- Ice cream and candies! They don't have to give those up, but just have on plan replacements. Carb Smart is an easy idea. There are so many on plan ice cream recipes now that you can replace those sugar filled ice creams in the freezer with some of Briana's famous ice cream treats. Maybe getting an ice cream maker would be a fun idea for the whole family. Treecies, Payday Candies and skinny chocolate are all easy to make. Have the kids help in the kitchen!
- A veggie tray is popular here. I fill is with many veggies that we all love as well as cheese cubes and some ranch dip. Grill some meats and just have a veggie tray at the ready. Prepping veggies is something many folks do at the beginning of the week. It makes for quick snacks and it brings lots of pretty color to their plate.
- Replace that Wonder Bread with some Nuke Queen bread or another on plan recipe. Just take it one step at a time. My hubby happens to love his sandwich meats in a low carb tortilla. That might be another idea for the family. Two others that are popular for family sandwich bread are: Briana's Basic Bread & Basic Low Carb Yeast Bread.
- Taco nights are fun! Cook up the meat and let them choose who they want to eat it! In some low carb wraps, wonder wraps or on a salad. Let them add their toppings and go for it!
- Real jello and puddings are not hard to make and will be beneficial to the kid's overall health instead of the sugary ones from the store.
- If you this will just be you and your man, some of the above will surely apply! Also check out Man Pleasing Dinner Meals for THM. Lots of yummy recipes that will fill him up and keep him losing weight.
Prizes:
For those families who are entering we will have some fun prizes to give away at the end. If you really give it a good shot, we will enter your families name into the pot at the end. Nerf guns, dvd's, games books and more! When we nail it down, I'll be sure to post about it! If you are a couple doing this together and you win, we'd be glad to send you a $100 Amazon gift card. That prize works for any families outside the US as well.
Mom, I know this will be more work for you. I know you will spend more time prepping and cooking and washing dishes than before. Many convenience foods are easy, yes, but not always very healthy for us or our kiddos. Kudos to you if you are willing to give this a go! Get the kids involved and let them help you prep, wash and cut veggies. Make up a schedule for helping with the extra dishes. I think there is something special about working together as a family and eating dinner at the table. May sweet moments be brought about in your home from this month together in striving to be more healthy. You might enjoy it so much that you keep it going!
Who wants to join us in the 30 Day THM Family Challenge?! 
15 Responses to “THM 30 Day Family Challenge”
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About Jennifer
Hello there! I’m Jennifer and Welcome to my website – A Home with Purpose. My passion is sharing Christ’s Love and recipes with my Trim Healthy Mama friends. Learn more about me.
I have been trying to get my husband and 16 year old daughter to join me. My husband has been asking if food is “real” or not. My daughter has been considering doing this as she is not happy with the size of her body. I will continue trying and see if this challenge will challenge them.
I hope they’ll join you! I am just asking my kiddos to try it for a month! One is pretty close because he is sugar and gluten free with lyme. The other is almost 16 and not thrilled! lol We are personally giving them a little “incentive” to do it with us and to try to have a gracious attitude. I’m hoping they’ll enjoy it, have fun and see that they feel better. Maybe that will help it stick!
Well Jen, we are ready as a family. We are off camping this week, so we will be a few days behind. Since I’ve been thinking all summer of how to get my family on board, this is the incentive we need. I’ve waffled back and forth for 3 years with THM and haven’t been able to get fully on board. We will be 5 days behind BUT it will make us work harder when we get back Saturday. I forgot my plan book but between Pinterest and the recipes I know and love I think I can make a grocery list for when I get back and begin next Monday.
Great! Glad you are joining us!
So excited about this. My 11 year old daughter is going through chemo for leukemia so has put on quite a bit of weight due to meds. Today was first day back at school in a year and she was miserable because of her size. Hoping this will help her and I get on the wagon! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Bless her heart!!! That’s so hard! How is she doing?? Are her treatments done? Glad you all are on board!
Oh no. Treatment for Leukemia is 2 years of chemo. Due to delays due to complications we still have another 15 months to go. She is doing much better, but still a long road ahead.
Ok I’ll give it a whirl, I to have been *playing around* with THM for well over a year and have done nothing but collect recipes and I have all the books! The Hubb”s won’t know he’s on it, hahaha but he loves when I cook so it’s a win, win for him. I gained 13 pounds over the summer so I hope to at least start working on getting that off. Prayers please, I am not a very disciplined person!
Yeah!! You can do it!
Hi! This comes at a very opportune time. I’ve been on THM for about 18 months. I’ve lost a solid 22 lbs and keep playing with 3. My ideal would be another 10, but lately I’ve gotten a bit lax. My husband joined me in January with the FB 100 day challenge and lost 20 lbs in no time. OUr daughter is 21 and keeps whining about needing to lose 20, but dang, giving us those sweets is a hard thing! She keeps finding these ridiculous promising weight-loss plans and they fail each and every time. I knew they would because I’ve done the same thing. I told her when she’s really serious then I’d share the THM principles. Then I happened to mention seeing the Family Challenge and she said, “okay! I’m in!” I’ve never commented before (though I have tried several of your recipes!), but I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all you do and the encouragement you so freely give AND for this challenge 🙂
yeah!!! 🙂
Jen, I am new to THM. I have the first book checked out of our local library and have been reading it over and over these past few weeks. I still feel a bit overwhelmed, but we need to start somewhere and sometime so… My family (hubbie, 5 kids ages 14, 13, 10, 8, and 5) and I are joining the challenge. Thanks for this neat opportunity and for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us all! Crystal
Glad to have you on board! I have a good post for newbies…might want to read it too.
http://www.ahomewithpurpose.com/dear-thm-newbie/
Hi Jen, I just felt impressed to comment today. First of all, thank you for your honesty and transparency in your writings. I am encouraged by your story. I began THM last Oct after I hit a wall and was in a very dark place for about 3 months. I knew something had to change and made the decision to make changes in my food rather than the recommended next step of trying medication. Through a lot of prayer and food changes, a huge difference was very noticeable in a short time. Eleven months later, including a hysterectomy and repair work, &lots of walking, I am down 20 pounds and feel the best I have felt in years. My husband has been supportive of the food changes, but has gotten more serious since July and has lost 15 pounds. He was inspired by Shan’s challenge, but we missed the dates to join. He has a lot of health issues so really praying he continues to make progress. He said the other day, “I don’t know the plan very well, but whatever you’re making, packing in my lunches and for snacks is working!” Our 2 sons are pretty agreeable to try new foods, but they do add lots of XO. Now praying for our daughter to see the difference in how we are feeling and decide to make changes for herself. Sorry for the long post, but I just want to thank you for your encouragement and all your efforts to share your journey with others. You’re are such a blessing!
This means the world, Amy!! Thank you! I’m so thankful you are doing better and down 20!! THat’s great! It’s so neat to see your family getting on board as well. I’m hoping your daughter will jump in next!