Families For Life | Where Healthy Eating Meets Family Bonding: An Active Health Coach's Perspective

Ever wondered how a simple family dinner could be more than just filling stomachs? How do nutritional habits allow family members to show care towards each other? These questions were simmering in mind during a chat with Ms Sharmila Begum, an Active Health Coach (AHC) with Sport Singapore. Like fellow AHCs, she teaches the public to enhance their health from areas like physical exercise to healthy eating. Her insight on how family mealtimes can become moments of connection might just change how you look at your next home-cooked meal.

A browse on the Active Health website allows users to identify themselves, with one such category being “I am…Finding Activities to do with My Family[JS4] .” Behind this gateway stands an AHC, ready to guide families on their wellness journey, as Ms Sharmila explains. These coaches come equipped with “Exercise is Medicine” and “Wellcoaches” certifications. On top of these, Ms Sharmila has a background in food science and human nutrition, making her suited to teach ‘Eat Better’ programmes under Active Health.

What makes them different from traditional healthcare professionals? They teach practical and preventive strategies underpinned by evidence, an all-rounded approach that goes beyond treating illness. Empowering individuals and families to be mindful of their wellbeing, they guide participants in modifying their lifestyles to include sustainable healthy habits. In the case of nutrition-related programmes, an AHC uses their nutritional knowledge to supplement hands-on activities like cooking.

AHCs also play a unique role in encouraging families to improve their welfare and bond with each other, particularly during school holidays when parent-child nutrition programmes come alive. With holistic family health being the goal of such sessions, parents are introduced to theories like eating better for growing children - mastering the art of preparing calcium and protein rich snacks for active children. Active Health Champs, a three-part series, was highlighted by Ms Sharmila as an impactful programme offered during the school holidays. In this initiative, families are taught ways to Eat Better, Rest Better and Move Better.

This series aims to benefit Singaporeans from all walks of life through educating them on accessible and affordable ways to increase nutrition. “Healthy and nutritious food do not have to be expensive,” Ms Sharmila said, listing cooking hacks – some of which were taught during this programme. Simple switches like using herbs and spices for flavours or replacing snacks with fresh cut fruit can make a big difference. She highlighted versatile ingredients like chickpeas, which can be used in multiple recipes like the chickpea egg wrap. Even one-pot meals pack a nutritional punch with healthy ingredients while staying budget-friendly as well. Through these practical solutions, Active Health’s programmes have helped families incorporate more nutritious, protein-rich whole foods into their daily meals, making healthy eating achievable for Singapore’s diverse communities.

At the Active Health Nutrition and Wellness Studio at Bukit Canberra, Active Health carries out many of its nutrition programmes, such as workshops on guilt-free snacking and smart healthy meal planning. According to Ms Sharmila, these programmes have not only motivated many families to become more nutritious, but have also woven stronger family bonds.

“They have reported increased conversations and bonding through creating these dishes together,” she reflected. Over the years, she’s witnessed the importance of family involvement in instilling healthier habits, while preparing meals and eating together – a trend that aligns with today’s growing focus on mindful and healthy eating.

“For many, the saying: ‘A family that eats together, stays together’ still holds true,” she noted.

Considering the many multigenerational families in Singapore, Active Health also has nutrition programmes that extend their reach to those aged 50 and above. Their programmes addressing weight management and diabetes have struck a chord, particularly with seniors concerned about their medical reports.

“Some others enroll to learn new ways to enjoy meals with their family members who may be diagnosed with a certain medical condition,” Ms Sharmila explained.

As she sees a steady stream of returning participants, she takes this as a sign that Active Health Coaches are creating a lasting impact on lives, one workshop at a time.

For the readers still trying to nudge their family members towards healthier choices, Ms Sharmila offered this energising thought: “Don’t wait for one day to start something new, let your day one be today and you will experience something new!”

Interested to learn ways to live more healthily while bonding with your family in the process? Visit https://go.gov.sg/activehealth to find out more!