Most parents try to ensure that their children are as well as possible. Of course, it can be difficult, especially with the constant lure of fast food, cartoons promoting junk food, and all of the new video games kids have to play with. Whatever happened to playing with sticks, riding bicycles, and eating strawberries right off the vine, right?

I’m not one of those people pining for the “good old days;” like many progressive people, I realize that the “good” of those days wasn’t good at all for most people—not for anyone who wasn’t white, straight, and male, that is. But getting back to the basics can be very useful when it comes to shedding the pounds, getting active, or simply adopting a healthy lifestyle.

May is Family Wellness Month. Here are a few “good old days” activities you can add into your family’s busy schedule to help increase your family’s wellness.

See Dr. Quinn. Okay, that’s probably even farther back than today’s old folks consider “the good old days,” but the sentiment is the same: go see the doctor. Schedule a yearly exam for every member of your family—including yourself.

Take care of your ticker. Keep your heart in good shape with some old-fashioned activities, such as:

• Jumping rope
• Playing hopscotch
• Hiking
• Running in the yard
• Running through the sprinkler
• Swimming
• Gardening
• Playing a sport—baseball, basketball, waffle ball, even bowling

Eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away. Be sure to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables in your daily meals for optimum health. While many of us are used to having meat as a main dish—and a large serving, no less—the main portions of a meal should instead be fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

Put some elbow grease into it. I’ll never forget how, when a fledgling worker, I asked my supervisor if we had any special cleaners to clean off our grills with at the restaurant I worked at (which really sucked to scrub), she smiled and replied, “We sure do! Good old fashioned elbow grease.” But she was right—the best way to clean anything is to simply scrub it with your might. Not only will you avoid harmful chemicals, you’ll also exercise your muscles and develop a bit of humility for the people who lived so long with nothing but their hands and a rag or two to clean with. The same goes with lawn mowing, cleaning the basement (or garage, or attic), and so many other chores we take the easy route with. Kids can learn a lot by partaking in these family chores.

Sit around on the back porch. Wellness isn’t all about being fit and eating right; it’s also about emotional and spiritual well-being. Rather than spending the evening in front of the television, go outside and tell stories together. Eat together on the back porch, or just cloud watch. Spend time together as a family.