Ep 50: How to Build Healthy Habits With Your Kids Without Constant Battles | Candice Imwalle

How do you get your kids to eat healthier, spend less time on screens, and build better habits without turning your home into a daily battle?
In this episode of the Swedish Wealth Institute Podcast, Daniel Wood sits down with author and mother Candice Imwalle for a practical conversation about parenting, food, health, screen time, communication, and the habits children carry with them into adulthood.
Candice began writing children's books because she wanted her own kids to understand why healthy eating matters. That work later grew into a book for moms with practical health, anti-aging, and parenting ideas.
Her central message is simple:
Children are far more likely to change when they understand why something matters to them.
Instead of relying only on “because I said so,” Candice encourages parents to connect healthier choices to goals children already care about — getting stronger, performing better in sports, having more energy, becoming more independent, and being ready for adult life.
Daniel and Candice also talk honestly about how hard this can be when parents are tired, schedules are packed, practices start at 5:00, everyone is hungry, and the drive-through feels easier.
The answer is not perfection.
It is baby steps, preparation, communication, and consistency.
In this episode, you'll discover:
✔ Why healthy habits often begin much earlier than parents realize
✔ Why Candice compares unhealthy habits to other risks parents actively protect children from
✔ How to get kids to eat healthier without creating constant arguments
✔ Why meal prep can make healthy food almost as convenient as fast food
✔ Simple ways to start when you're exhausted and short on time
✔ Why a three-minute workout can be better than waiting for the “perfect” workout
✔ How to explain the “why” behind healthy choices
✔ Why kids respond better when healthy habits connect to their own goals
✔ How to handle screen time and phones during family time
✔ What to do when you're changing habits with teenagers
✔ Why changing everything at once usually backfires
✔ How to involve children in meals without creating more work
✔ Why giving kids choices can increase buy-in
✔ How respect changes the way children respond to parents
✔ Why yelling occasionally is different from making yelling the culture of the home
✔ How parenting and leadership share many of the same principles
This episode is for parents who want their kids to become healthier, stronger, more independent, and better prepared for life — without expecting themselves to become perfect parents overnight.

5 Lessons From This Episode
1. Healthy Habits Start Earlier Than We Think
The habits children develop around food, movement, screens, and self-care can stay with them for years.
Food is not simply about today's dinner.
It helps shape their relationship with health, discipline, energy, and caring for themselves.
2. Parents Still Have to Lead When It Is Inconvenient
Candice makes a strong comparison:
If your child ran toward traffic, you would immediately stop them.
Parents already accept responsibility for protecting children from dangers they are too young to understand fully.
Candice argues that building healthy habits belongs in that same broader responsibility.
3. Start With Baby Steps
You do not need to change your family's entire life tomorrow.
Start with:
One healthier dinner
One planned shopping trip
One short workout
One phone-free meal
One better conversation
Small improvements become routines.
4. Give Your Children the Why
“Because I said so” may create short-term compliance.
It does not always create long-term habits.
Ask what your children care about.
Do they want to:
Get better at football?
Run faster?
Feel stronger?
Make a team?
Have more energy?
Be prepared for college?
Then connect healthier choices to their goals, not simply yours.
5. Make Them Part of the Process
Let your children choose between healthy options.
Ask what protein they want.
Ask how they want something seasoned.
Let them choose a recipe.
Take them shopping when possible.
People tend to care more about things they helped create — and children are no different.

Practical Family Action Plan
Step 1: Get the Adults Aligned
If there are two parents or caregivers involved, agree on the direction first.
Mixed standards create confusion.
Step 2: Ask Your Kids About Their Goals
Do not begin with food.
Begin with them.
Ask:
“What do you want to get better at?”
Then connect healthy habits to that goal.
Step 3: Change One Thing
Do not announce a total family revolution.
Choose one improvement.
For example:
“This week, we're going to cook dinner at home instead of getting fast food.”
Step 4: Give Them Choices
Instead of:
“You're eating chicken.”
Try:
“Do you want chicken, salmon, or burgers tonight?”
You still control the available options, but they gain some ownership.
Step 5: Create Phone-Free Moments
Meals are an obvious place to begin.
Put phones away and make the people sitting in front of you the focus.
Step 6: Prepare for Busy Days
Cook larger portions.
Keep two or three meal options available.
Use simple recipes.
Make the healthy option the convenient option.

🎁 Free Gift From Candice
Candice offers quick-start resources through her website with practical ideas for helping children begin healthier habits.
She also has resources covering health and anti-aging habits for parents.
Visit:
candicesimole.com

🎁 Action Taker Bonus — Financial Freedom Summit
You're also invited to claim a free ticket to the upcoming Financial Freedom Summit.
North America
September 10–13
Europe
September 24–27
The announced speaker lineup includes:
Les Brown, Nick Vujicic, Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, Jay Abraham, Marci Shimoff, Janet Attwood, John Gray, Dr. John Demartini, Joseph McClendon III, Rob Moore, Mark Victor Hansen, and more.

👉 North America: https://events.swedishwealthinstitute.com/financialfreedomsummit-na6
👉 Europe: https://events.swedishwealthinstitute.com/financialfreedomsummit-eu5

Connect With Candice Imwalle
🌐 candicesimole.com
You can also connect with Candice through Instagram and Facebook.
Her books include two children's books designed to support conversations around healthy eating, along with a book for moms covering parenting, health, and wellness ideas.

Next Episode
Next week marks the one-year anniversary of the Swedish Wealth Institute Podcast.
To celebrate, Daniel and the SWI team are beginning a three-part anniversary series featuring some of the strongest lessons from the first year.
Part 1 focuses on mindset and resilience, with lessons from guests including:
Nick Vujicic, Les Brown, JR McIntyre, Moshe Gersht, Michelle Masters, and Seal Stanford.
Follow the podcast so you don't miss it.

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