How to Use the Olympics to Inspire Healthy Habits in Your Kids

It’s Olympic season! This exciting event only comes around every two years, offering a wonderful opportunity for families to come together. Whether you're actively watching or just have the games on in the background, they can spark great conversations with family and friends.

With athletes and their bodies on display, discussions about body image might come up. At WithAll, we know that kids are always listening, and the comments they hear and the things they observe shape their self-concept and worldview. Let’s use this Olympic season to focus on health and well-being over appearance. Here are three ways to do so:

1. Host an Olympics Viewing Party and Involve Kids in the Planning

The Olympics can be a fun occasion to connect as a family and celebrate food and movement. Spend time looking at the list of ideas below for Olympic-themed snacks and get your kids involved in deciding what to eat and do at the party. Have them help you purchase the food and then prepare it. When kids are involved in meal planning, grocery shopping, and meal preparation, it gives them a sense of ownership, which leads to pride. This pride can encourage them to try new foods and feel good about being part of the process.

Encourage your kids to help create snacks that balance nourishment and taste. Teach them about carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, explaining how each type of fuel helps our bodies and brains function well.

Here are some ideas for hosting an Olympics party with your kids:

• Fruit skewers with yogurt dip: Channel the spirit of the rings with rainbow-colored fruit kebabs!
• Mini “torches”: Pretzel sticks with a dollop of hummus for a protein and fiber combo.
• “Victory lap” veggie sticks: Celebrate the colors of the games with a variety of colorful veggies and a light dip.
• DIY “podium” trail mix: Let your kids create their own trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and whole-grain cereal for a satisfying mix of crunch and sweetness.
• Babywise Mom has some French-inspired ideas as well!

For younger kids, consider sharing this video that explains the context of the games. You can also host your own backyard Olympics with fun challenges to enjoy moving your bodies together. Having fun with food in a low-pressure environment and moving for enjoyment, not appearance supports healthy relationships with food and body for kids.

2. Help Kids Think Differently About Health & Bodies

Diet culture is all around us, but we can counteract it by being mindful of the questions we ask, the comments we make, and what we highlight through our words and actions.

Here are three things to discuss with your kids while watching the Olympics:

• Comment: “Isn’t it incredible how all of these people are the world’s top athletes, but their bodies are all different! It reminds me that all body shapes and sizes are to be celebrated. Our body size or shape doesn’t determine whether or not we are good athletes.”
• Ask: “What do you think it takes to become an athlete at this level? How much of that is based on how they look? Do you think their uniform makes them better at their sport?”
• Remind: “These athletes didn’t just show up and win. They’ve spent thousands of hours working to get here, taking care of their bodies and minds to stay healthy and perform at this level.”

3. Change the Narrative on Body Comments

Body comments can sometimes slip into conversations. Four years ago, I was watching the Olympics with my family. When a swimmer with a smaller body appeared, someone said, “Wow, he’s not going to do well.” At first, I almost agreed, but then I realized how incomplete our view is from just 10 seconds on TV. His appearance tells us nothing about his personal health, strength, training, experience, or work ethic (and he went on to do very well in the event!).

We live in a culture that often teaches us that only one body type can be athletically successful or societally valued. Kids are always listening, so it’s important to address these comments.

Here are some ways to address body comments:

• Explain: “Body shape or size doesn’t determine an athlete’s greatness.”
• Highlight diverse athletes: “Look at Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Misty Copeland, Patrick Mahomes, and Luka Doncic. They all have different body types, but what makes them great is their dedication, care for their mental and physical health, and hard work—not their body shape or size.”

We’d love to hear your thoughts. What tips do you have for using the Olympic games as an opportunity to support kids feeling good in their bodies?  Let us know in the comments and enjoy cheering on these amazing athletes with your family!