Healthy Starts Early: How I Broke My Family’s Food Curse
Hey hey, Fit Fam!
It’s your girl, Shelia Hicks, the Fit Mom half of the dynamic iLivFIT duo, and today I’m going to tell you something that might just change the way you see food forever.
Let me tell you how I changed the trajectory of not just my family — but the next generation — and broke a systemic curse that’s been sitting in my bloodline longer than anyone can remember.
Sounds deep, right? But here’s the kicker… it all started with how I fed my kids.
Yep. Something as simple — and as powerful — as the dinner plate.
Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “Here comes another health lecture,” stick with me. Because this isn’t about dieting, deprivation, or turning your home into a kale-worshipping temple. Nope. This is about living fit from the inside out, raising a generation that naturally craves good food, and making wellness a lifestyle — not a punishment.
October: The Season of Sweets and Sneaky Habits
I’m not sure when you’re reading this blog, but right now, it’s that time of year — October.
You know, the season where candy practically rains from the sky, and every store aisle screams “Trick or treat!” (but let’s be real… it’s more like treat or treat).
And while everyone else was gearing up for sugar rushes and late-night candy raids, my focus was on something different: building lifelong eating habits that wouldn’t crumble every time a Snickers bar winked at them.
See, my son — the other half of iLivFIT — is a healthy, strong man now. But once upon a time, he was just a wide-eyed, curious little boy with baby curls and chubby cheeks.
The crazy thing? I didn’t ban candy. Nope. I didn’t turn into the food police. Because let’s be honest — forbidding it only makes kids want it more later.
Instead, I took another route.
Keep reading, because this secret right here? It’s the one that shifted generations.
The Secret Is Simple: Start Early and Lead by Example
Let’s talk truth, mama to mama — getting kids to eat vegetables can feel like trying to convince a cat to take a bath. It’s hard. But it wasn’t for me. Why? Because veggies, fruits, and whole foods weren’t the “healthy option” in my house — they were the only option.
I didn’t make vegetables special, I made them normal.
What you see, you become.
And my babies saw me eating greens, snacking on fruits, and drinking water instead of soda. It wasn’t a speech; it was a standard.
When I stocked my pantry, it wasn’t filled with neon-colored cereals and processed snacks. It was stacked with nuts, oats, dried fruit, and flavors that came from real food — not chemicals.
There were no “pizza nights.” There were salad nights.
And guess what? My kids went wild for them! They loved the crunch, the color, the freshness — because their taste buds were never drowned in syrupy sugar or fake cheese dust.
I didn’t deprive them of flavor — I introduced them to real flavor. Once your palate adjusts, those processed foods don’t even taste right anymore. They taste… fake. Because they are.
Healthy Eating Secret #2: Flavor Isn’t the Enemy — It’s the Key
Here’s something I’ll never quite understand — why people think eating healthy means you have to go cold turkey, strip away all the flavor, and live off of steamed broccoli and dry chicken breast. That “all or nothing” mindset is exactly why so many people quit before they even get started. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be punishment. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progression. The truth is, it’s okay to make your food taste good! Just because it’s nutritious doesn’t mean it has to taste bland. Throw some seasoning on that chicken, add a drizzle of olive oil, or mix in a sauce that brings your plate to life. I never ate bland food — and neither did my kids. I’ll even admit this: I used to sprinkle a little sugar on our vegetables. Yep, you heard me right! Because I’d rather my kids get a touch of sweetness from broccoli than from a bag full of candy. The point isn’t to drown your food in sugar or salt, but to bring out its natural goodness and make it enjoyable. We still dipped our salads in ranch — but it was salad! That’s a win. So yes, throw that cheese on there, shake a little seasoning, and stop fearing flavor. When food tastes good, healthy eating stops feeling like a diet and starts feeling like a lifestyle.
Breaking the Family Cycle
Now, don’t get me wrong — my childhood family wasn’t eating fast food every night. But healthy meals weren’t exactly our strong suit.
We were surviving, not thriving.
I remember the bologna sandwiches, the cheap boxed dinners, and the quick fixes that filled bellies but didn’t fuel bodies. We didn’t talk about nutrients or ingredients; we talked about stretching a dollar and making it last. And I get that — survival mode is real.
But somewhere deep down, I made a promise: “This stops with me.”
Even as a teenager, I started getting picky about what I’d eat. My mama probably thought I was dramatic — pushing plates away and saying, “I don’t want that.” But what she didn’t realize was that I was building awareness.
I didn’t have the science back then, but I knew certain foods made me feel heavy, tired, or moody, and others made me light, focused, and strong.
So I listened to my body before I even had the language for wellness.
Fast-forward years later, that decision wasn’t just about me anymore — it became the foundation for how I raised my son.
Modeling the Lifestyle, Not Preaching the Diet
People always ask me,
“How did you get your son to eat healthy?”
And I laugh every time because the answer is so simple it shocks them.
I didn’t get him to do anything.
I just lived it.
Children imitate consistency, not commands.
If you tell them to eat veggies but they see you sneaking cookies at midnight — guess what they’ll do?
Exactly.
But if they see you cooking, enjoying your food, talking about how good you feel after a smoothie, or how refreshed you are after a walk — they absorb that energy like a sponge.
Let me give you a funny story.
One day, we went to a friend’s house for dinner. The meal? Fried chicken — golden, crispy, and dripping with oil. You could smell the calories from the driveway.
I look over mid-bite and see my son… peeling the skin off his chicken!
The host looked mortified and asked, “Sweetheart, what are you doing?”
And my boy said, “The skin isn’t healthy for you. It’s all grease!”
She laughed, a little uncomfortable, but said, “Well, you’re right, baby.”
Meanwhile, I’m sitting there half-embarrassed, half-proud. But deep down? I knew I’d done something right.
That was the moment I realized — this wasn’t just parenting. This was planting.
The Fruits of Planting Healthy Seeds Early
Now, here’s where it gets beautiful.
That same little boy is now a grown man — a health-conscious father — and I see the ripple effect every single day.
When we go out for Sunday dinner, I see my granddaughter beam with pride when she orders veggies and tells her daddy, “I only eat healthy things!”
And let me tell you, that right there almost made me cry in the middle of a restaurant.
Because that’s generational transformation. That’s legacy.
And it all started with the example I set in our tiny kitchen decades ago.
The Mindset Behind Healthy Living
Now, don’t get it twisted — I’m not saying I ate lettuce 24/7. I had my chocolate, my fries, my pizza nights. I’m human! But the key was, I never made healthy eating a chore.
It wasn’t a punishment, it was a privilege.
If you approach wellness like a burden, you’ll never sustain it. If you approach it like a blessing, it’ll become second nature. Healthy living isn’t about perfection — it’s about balance. I teach this in every iLivFIT Pop-Up: consistency beats intensity. You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. You just need to start somewhere.
Start small — a salad a day, a glass of water before coffee, one less soda this week.
Make it so easy to win that failure can’t find you.
Make it hard to fail by starting so small it’s unnoticeable… until it’s undeniable.
3 Amazon Resources to Jumpstart Your Healthy Lifestyle
Alright, Fit Fam — let’s get practical!
You know I love giving you tools that make your journey easier, not harder.
Here are three of my favorite health-focused Amazon picks to help you and your family LIVE FIT every day:
Fit Mother’s Kitchen: Family Meal Prep Made Easy
If you’re a busy mom like me, this one’s a game-changer.
This guide helps you meal prep healthy, balanced meals that your whole family will actually enjoy — no bland broccoli or cardboard chicken here! It breaks down portion control, grocery shopping tips, and ways to sneak veggies into kid-friendly favorites. Perfect for building strong bodies and strong habits.
Blender Bottle Pro Series – 28oz Shaker Cup
Let’s be real — hydration and protein intake make all the difference.
This durable shaker bottle is your go-to for smoothies, greens, or post-workout shakes. Keep it in your car, your purse, your gym bag. My son laughs because I carry mine everywhere. But hydration = energy. And energy = LIFE.
The Whole Food Diet Revolution
This book dives deep into the why behind whole food eating — not just how to do it. It’s full of real-life stories, science-backed nutrition, and simple swaps that’ll make you rethink what’s on your plate.
Think of it as your food bible — but way more fun to read!
Why This Matters: Health Is a Family Legacy
We live in a world where people plan for generational wealth — but not generational health.
And honestly? That’s backwards.
Because what’s the point of money if your health robs you of time to enjoy it?
Teaching your kids how to love good food, move their bodies, and value their wellbeing — that’s the real inheritance.
When my family gathers now, we still have fun. There’s laughter, dessert, and balance.
But there’s also color — the greens, yellows, and reds from fresh fruits and veggies — and a deeper sense of gratitude for the nourishment before us.
That’s what living fit truly means.
The Fitnomenal Movement: Join Us, Live Fit!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know — iLivFIT isn’t just a brand. It’s a movement.
A movement for women (and men!) who want more out of life.
More energy, more joy, more health, more freedom.
When I created this community, it wasn’t just to show off gym workouts. It was to help you find your fit — your rhythm, your version of wellness.
Because what works for me might not work for you, but the journey is the same: progress, not perfection.
Through our weekly Pop-Up Workouts, Fit Challenges, and Wellness Reviews, we travel across the U.S. proving that fitness isn’t a destination — it’s an adventure.
And whether you’re 25 or 65, a gym rat or a couch queen, we’ve got a space for you.
Join our sisterhood at iLivFIT.com
💫 Get workout tips, recipes, and programs designed for real-life women.
💫 Access exclusive wellness guides and brand discounts.
💫 Be part of a family that celebrates strength, not just size.
Final Thoughts: Legacy, Lifestyle, and Love
When I look at my son now — a trainer, motivator, and father — and see my granddaughter mirroring that same spirit of health and confidence… I know this is bigger than me.
This is legacy work.
So, if you’re reading this thinking it’s too late to start — it’s not.
If you think your kids are too set in their ways — they’re not.
It just takes one person to change the family tree.
One person who says, “It stops here. We LIVE FIT now.”
That’s what I did.
And now, generation after generation, we’re reaping the fruit — literally and figuratively.
So here’s my challenge to you:
Start today. Not Monday. Not next month. Now.
Take one step toward health, and make it contagious in your home.
Because health isn’t just about living longer — it’s about living better.
Until next time, my beautiful fit family…
Stay faithful, stay focused, and as always —
LIVE FIT.
