The Power of Dad: Helping Families Greaux Healthy Together

This Father’s Day, let’s celebrate dads, grandfathers, uncles, coaches, and father figures who help children build healthy habits every day.

Healthy habits often start at home. Kids are always watching the adults around them. When fathers make healthy choices, children notice and often follow those examples.

Whether it’s choosing water instead of sugary drinks, adding vegetables to dinner, or staying active, small everyday choices can make a big difference. The American Heart Association says children are more likely to build healthy habits when they see trusted adults doing the same things.

Why Leading by Example Matters

Research from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows that fathers know they play an important role in helping children stay active and healthy.

Dr. Robert L. Newton Jr., Director of the Preventive Behavioral Medicine Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical, led a program investigating father’s and father figures’ beliefs related to their role in promoting their children’s physical activity. Through his research, Dr. Newton has found that father’s/father figures understand that when they stay active and make healthy choices, their children are more likely to do the same.

Many of the fathers who participated in the interviews described how being active with their children helps make physical activity a natural part of everyday life.

One father explained:
“Get active with them. As I’m willing to do it with him, he’s willing to do it.”

Another father shared:
“I’ve always been active. So, they want to be out doing what I do. They learn by seeing.”

These examples show how children often learn healthy habits by watching the adults they trust most.

Simple Healthy Habits for Families

Being involved does not require perfection. It simply means showing up and spending time together.

Fathers also shared simple ways they support healthy routines at home, including:

• Taking a family walk after dinner
• Cooking a healthy meal together
• Limiting screen time
• Encouraging outdoor play
• Helping children stick to a bedtime routine

One father shared:
“We do a family walk around the neighborhood, so try to get everybody outside.”

Another father encouraged active play instead of screen time:
“I encourage him to go outside, go ride your bike, go down the street, go play with the neighbors’ kids, go do something, rather than being inside on the game or on his tablet all day.”

These small moments add up and help children build healthy habits.

Making Physical Activity Fun

Healthy kids are more likely to become healthy adults. That is why it is important to help children see that movement can be fun and not something they are forced to do. The fathers participating in Dr. Newton’s interviews described their role as making healthy behaviors enjoyable rather than something children feel pressured to do.

One father explained:
“I’ve learned that if you try to force them, that’s when they’re going to shy away from it and then they won’t do it.”

Another father found success by turning activity into a game:
“I just kind of turn it into a challenge, because he wants to outdo dad with everything.”

Encouragement, participation, and positive family experiences can help children build healthy habits. For family-friendly ways to stay active together, check out Greaux Healthy’s Family Physical Activity Guide.

This Father’s Day, Let’s Grow Together

Building Healthy Futures

Healthy kids become healthy adults. The habits we build early—what we eat, how we move, how we rest—shape long-term health, including heart health.

Fathers and father figures have a unique opportunity to help build a foundation by:

• Modeling healthy behaviors and leading by example
• Making physical activity fun instead of a chore
• Creating positive experiences around healthy foods
• Encouraging outdoor play and family time
• Supporting routines that promote good sleep and overall wellness

These everyday actions may seem small, but they can make a lasting difference in a child’s health and well-being.

A Community Effort

Here in Louisiana, we know that improving health takes all of us families, schools, and communities working together. That’s why Greaux Healthy is bringing science-backed strategies from Pennington Biomedical into everyday life.

This Father’s Day, we celebrate the fathers and father figures who lead by example and help children build a strong foundation for lifelong health. The time you spend together, the healthy choices you make, and the example you set every day help shape a healthier generation.