When it comes to teaching children healthy habits, what is the best thing parents can do to help their cause? You guessed it–practicing what they preach.

A new study that observed more than 1,300 families showed that when parents up their consumption of fruits and vegetables, so do their kids. No surprise here. As I’ve said before: Kids do as their parents do. Drink lots of soda–expect Junior to drink lots of soda. Watch lots of T.V.–expect Muffin to watch lots of T.V. Bypass the gym and blow up–well, you get the point.

But isn’t it refreshing to know that you can influence your children in the positive, too? All you have to do is adopt healthy lifestyle habits: eat fruits and vegetables, can the sodas, exercise regularly, get chiropractic care, rest up, and kick the smoking habit. And most important–believe in it! I promise you, whatever your children see you do regularly will be what they do too. You can bet on it. Doesn’t it make sense to pass on healthy habits to your children? Don’t make poor health choices your family legacy. Do the right things and your kids will too.