Get Moving and Eat Healthier
INspire Healthy Families is an Indiana Department of Health initiative being championed by First Lady Maureen Braun. The goal of the initative is to help Hoosier families build healthier habits together through simple, practical daily choices. Rooted in the belief that strong families are built at home, the initiative encourages parents, grandparents, and children to make wellness a shared priority in ways that feel fun, realistic, and sustainable.
As part of the initiative, the First Lady is asking Hoosier families to commit to sharing one healthy meal together with a plate that includes protein, vegetables, and fruit. After dinner, families are encouraged to spend 10 minutes moving together — whether that means taking a walk, dancing in the kitchen, playing outside, or any activity that gets everyone moving.
Hoosier families can follow along on the First Lady’s social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) as she works to INspire healthy families across Indiana. Families are also invited to join the movement by sharing how they are staying healthy together using #INspireHealthyFamilies.
Small Steps, Stronger You
Here are some ways that your family can get healthy by moving more and eating a little better.
Plant now for fall pumpkins
A great way to get kids engaged and eating healthy is to grow the plants at home. It's fun and rewarding to see the seeds sprout and watch the plants and vegetables grow.
Now is the perfect time to plant the seeds for a fall harvest of mini or carving pumpkins. They love warm soil, and planting gives them the full summer growing season they need for a great fall harvest.
Start now so you'll be ready to enjoy planting your own festive pumpkins and make them part of your Halloween decorations.
Easy Gardening Tips & Tricks for Families
- Watering Made Simple
Water mornings/evenings. Kids can touch the top inch of soil, if it’s dry, it’s watering time! - Sunshine Rule
Most veggies need 6-8 hours of sun. Watch your yard’s shadows to pick the best spot. - Fast Growers for Kids
Choose quick-sprouting seeds: radishes, lettuce, peas, basil, green onions. Kids stay excited when they see quick results! - Use What You Have
Reuse yogurt tubs, cups, or coffee cans. Add drainage holds and let kids decorate their plants.
Cooking together 
A great way to get your kids interested in healthy foods is to |cook together. It can help turn unfamiliar foods into fun experiences and encourage them to try something new because they made it themselves.
Snackle Boxes
Snackle boxes are a fun, healthy option, and it’s something I know my own grandkids love to help prepare when we’re heading to ball games, on trips, or really anytime we need quick grab‑and‑go snacks. It’s a great way to get them involved in choosing and arranging their food, too.
Here are some snackle box ideas to help make them even more fun:
- Rainbow Box: Kids sort fruits and veggies by color (strawberries, carrots, grapes, cucumbers, blueberries).
- Build‑Your‑Own Trail Mix: They can scoop whole‑grain cereal, pretzels, dried fruit, seeds, and a few dark chocolate chips into compartments.
- Fruit & Dip Box: Kids portion out berries, apple slices, and grapes with small cups of yogurt dip or sunflower butter.
- Mini Sandwich Stackers: Whole‑grain crackers, cheese squares, and little turkey or ham squares they can stack or arrange into “kits.” This gives off the Lunchables vibe that kids seem to enjoy.
- Veggie Box: Carrots, cucumbers, snap peas, and a mini hummus or ranch cup, easy for kids to wash and organize.
Here are some other resources for family-friendly recipes:
- Indiana Family of Farmers – Recipe Gallery
- Purdue Extension Nutrition Recipes
- Harvest of the Month
- Child Nutrition Recipe Box
- Kids Eat in Color Recipes
Get moving! 
Many times, as parents and caregivers, we overthink what it means for our children to get exercise. In reality, movement can be simple, joyful, and can easily become part of our daily routines.
Getting started is easy and you don't need any special equipment to do it. Summer is the perfect time to go outside and enjoy these activities that keep kids active, spark curiosity, and create special opportunities to bond with your children at every age.
Nature Walk
A simple way to make moving more fun is by taking a nature walk.
Indiana’s outdoor spaces offer wonderful opportunities for every age to explore, learn, and stay active together. Here are a few ideas to help make your walk meaningful for the whole family:
Infants
Even our youngest Hoosiers benefit from time outside. Use your best sportscaster voice and narrate what you see—colors, shapes, sounds, textures. Talk about all five senses as you walk. Your words and enthusiasm help them learn about the world around them.
Toddlers
Bring along a small container and invite toddlers to collect natural items they find along the way—sticks, rocks, leaves, or pinecones. Encourage curiosity by talking about what each item is and where it might have come from, while guiding them to leave flowers and living plants intact.
Preschoolers
Try bringing a piece of cardboard with small holes punched through it. Visit a field where children are allowed to gently pick dandelions and let them place the stems through the holes. It’s a fun way to practice fine motor skills while enjoying the outdoors.
Elementary‑Aged Children
Indiana is home to incredible parks—many of them free to explore. Visit a new park or try a different entrance to discover a new trail. Encourage your young explorer to lead the way and share what stands out to them. Nature walks create wonderful moments for conversation and connection.
Middle School Students
Middle schoolers often enjoy opportunities to express their independence. Invite them to be the “family photographer” for the day. They can capture the things that interest them—plants, wildlife, unique textures, or favorite family moments. Empowering them with a creative role often helps them engage more fully with the experience.
High School Students
High schoolers may appreciate activities that tap into creativity and nostalgia. Encourage them to rediscover childhood favorites – placing dandelions through cardboard holes, collecting interesting nature finds, or simply exploring off the beaten path. They often enjoy the chance to relax, unplug, and be playful again.
Shop the farmers market 
It is officially farmers market season in Indiana! Farmers markets provide fantastic opportunities to connect with your local community, support local farmers and vendors, and, best of all, access the freshest fruits and vegetables you could buy.
To prepare for a visit to your local farmers market, check to see if the market you want to visit has a website and/or social media page; if so, be sure to check those out before you go for the most up-to-date information! Market selections often change, so you will want to check what’s available each week to help make meal planning and grocery shopping easier.
Since farmers markets specialize in local produce, the variety of produce you’ll find will be different than what you would find at the grocery store. This is because fruits and vegetables can only grow in certain seasons here in Indiana. A guide on Indiana Grown’s website helps outline when common varieties of produce are in season throughout the year, so you know what you’re likely to see at the market. If you still have questions, most markets will have an information booth at the entrance to the market with people who can provide more information.
Adding more fruits and vegetables to your plate is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and having the fresh taste and convenience of local farmers market produce makes eating well both easy and enjoyable.
To help support Hoosiers eating more local fresh fruits and vegetables, the Indiana Department of Health Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity offers three farmers market programs: Double Up Indiana for anyone who receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP); and Senior FMNP. Each program complements the other, expanding opportunities for more Hoosiers to access fresh fruits and vegetables, which both supports local farmers and boosts the local economy! Visit each website to learn more and see if you qualify.