Health Advocate Blog

Healthy autumn activities for the whole family

With cooler temperatures and lots of opportunities for together time, fall is a great season to enjoy healthy activities with family and start new traditions. The family who plays together stays healthy together! Here are a few east, low cost or free ideas to kick start your fall of family fun:

Start your morning with a brisk walk or run. Wake up the kiddos, the dog or your partner to join you to get moving first thing. Not only does this rev up your metabolism for the rest of the day, it also gives you time to clear your mind and focus on the day ahead.

It’s apple season! Take the family to a local orchard for a day of apple picking, or hit up your local farmers’ market as a family to pick out seasonal produce. This can also be a great way to learn about new fruits and vegetables and try new recipes as a family. Click here to learn more about what’s in season.

Happy trails to you… Instead of hopping into the car for leaf peeping, go hiking or biking and enjoy the beauty of fall! Use Map My Hike or Map My Ride to find trails near you. Look for trails that have hills if you want to increase the intensity of your workout.

Tidy up outdoors. Rake the leaves in your yard. According to Harvard Health, a 125-pound person can burn 120 calories raking the lawn for just 30 minutes.

Take a post-meal walk. Walk with the family after a get-together like a big Thanksgiving or holiday meal. It gets you out of the house and helps you burn calories, too.

Going road tripping? Be sure to park at a few rest stops along the way to stretch and walk around. This is a great way for everyone to release some energy and fit in some exercise.

Go play outside! There are many games you can play outdoors in the fall, like flag football and ultimate Frisbee. You could also try a simple game of tag, going geocaching, or organizing a scavenger hunt.

Or try a new indoor activity. If the weather is too chilly or dreary for your liking, check out activities or events at the local community center, like indoor pick-up soccer, roller skating, or a friendly game of basketball, among others.

Early snowfall? Go out and play in the snow, build a snowman, go sledding, or shovel the driveway.

Join a local event. Check your newspaper for run/walk events in your area. Turkey trots, jingle bell walks, and other themed activities can be enjoyable for the whole family.

There are so many fun activities to do during fall—get outside, get moving, and enjoy the crisp autumn air!