In writing stories, I often turn to two sets of sources -- the experts who understand an issue inside and out, and the real-life people who live with that issue daily. In today's story on the challenges of being a healthy parent, I didn't have to make that distinction. The experts were also the parents who found it difficult to follow their own advice.

Tom Manella, senior director of personal training for Lifetime Fitness, said his family (he has two kids) often struggles to eat healthy dinners. He has found only two types of packaged mac and cheese that he would consider nutritional, and yet parents end up eating all kinds of mac and cheese because it is quick food for their on-the-go children. Either the parents make extra for themselves, or eat kids' leftovers because they don't want to waste food.

"You end up cooking crappier food, and you end up eating some of that food," he said. "There's not many (parents) who say, 'I'm going to cook you macoroni and cheese,' and then say, 'I'm going to cook myself this healthy chicken salad.' It's a double whammy."

(Personal note: I've long been the human garbage disposal for uneaten food on my kids' plates, but I'm cutting back. Parents, let's all say it together: "It's OK not to eat my kids' leftovers.") Feel free to weigh in! What are your strategies for being healthy parents?

Manella said parents won't eat better until they improve the nutrition level of meals for the whole family. He also said parents need to dedicate themselves to personal fitness, because they can't take care of others unless they are in good health.

"You need to be number one," he said, "because if you're not number one with yourself, then you can't give to other people or can't give as much as you want to other people."

The fitness journey of Dr. Christopher Balgobin, a family practice doc in Apple Valley, has been chronicled in media before. His wife gave birth to their first child while he was in the grind of his medical residency, and the combined challenges of training and parenting took a toll. Three years ago, he decided he needed to live the advice he was giving to patients and to lose weight. It has been a successful turnaround.

Balgobin said it became easier as his children reached ages at which they became more active. A common trap for parents is to get stuck sitting on the sidelines during their kids' sports games or practices.

"They're taking their kids to hockey and all they're doing is sitting around," he said. "I get that from parents a lot: 'I'm the taxi driver.'"

Balgobin's solution has been to coach his two kids' soccer teams: "I'm doing the drills. I'm running with the kids."