Healthy Heroes: Tariq Spence
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: August 27, 2012
"We finish our homework, my dad says "No Media Mondays," and that means no television, no electronics, we usually go outside or draw a picture," said Isabella Spence, Tariq's Daughter.
"It's absolutely media darkness in our house for that particular day," said Tariq Spence.
A system is what keeps Tariq Spence and his family healthy. For Tariq, his wife and three children, "No Media Mondays" has now become a habit. It's a tool that helps them keep active.
"I played sports when I was a kid, and I want to make sure my kids are active too. I think it makes them more rounded individuals growing up. We are always academics first, but you want to have some sort of active lifestyle," said Spence.
"Riding my bike in the parking lot or maybe when I'm done I can go on the playground," said Isabella.
When it comes to eating, Tariq and his family also have a routine. Tariq says it's all about compromise. Parents get to pick two healthy choices. The kids are allowed to pick the third.
"If they didn't have french fries today, they substitute that with carrots, so we will switch different things out that are not healthy for healthy foods and next thing you know two-thirds of their plate have healthy food as opposed to the entire plate being unhealthy," said Spence.
Tariq admits it wasn't easy adapting to a new healthy lifestyle, but now it's a part of their normal routine. He says it's something they don't think twice about.
"It was the worst thing, the worst two months, and then every month after that, you increase a new day," said Spence.
To learn more about how healthy families are doing it, go to
