Active Grandparenting: Why It's Time to Start Training Now
What if becoming a grandparent wasn't just a milestone you reached—but a role you prepared for?
That was my biggest takeaway after sitting down with wellness pioneer Kristen Coffield. She's the founder of The Culinary Cure and the creator of the Active Grandparenting movement, and our conversation wasn't really about grandparenting at all. It was about the tiny, everyday choices that determine how fully we get to show up for the people we love.
Because the truth is, none of us knows what the next decade will bring. But we do have some say in how we're preparing for it.
The habits that saved her
Kristen has lived through more than most people experience in a lifetime.
In one decade she faced thyroid cancer, the loss of both parents, financial hardship, caregiving, an empty nest, menopause, and a marriage under strain. It was the kind of season that leaves many people wondering how to keep going.
What surprised me most was that the turning point wasn't some complicated wellness protocol.
It was water.
Kristen explains why hydration became the foundation for rebuilding her health—and why so many of us jump to supplements, diets, and exercise plans before addressing one of the simplest habits our bodies desperately need. It's a reminder that lasting change often begins with the basics.
Training for the life you want
One of my favorite moments in our conversation was hearing how Active Grandparenting began.
A video of Kristen effortlessly standing up off the floor while holding her grandbaby caught the internet's attention. People weren't just impressed—they realized they wanted to be able to do that, too.
That's really what functional fitness is about.
Not six-pack abs. Not chasing a number on the scale. But having the strength, balance, and mobility to get down on the floor, pick up a toddler, go on adventures, and stay independent as we age.
The question becomes: Are we training for the life we hope to have?
The gift grandparents give
As Kristen shared the research behind what she calls the "Grandmother Effect," I couldn't stop thinking about my own parents.
They're the kind of grandparents every child deserves—the kind who make their grandchildren feel completely seen, safe, and deeply loved.
Kristen explains that grandparents don't just create wonderful memories. They help build confidence, emotional resilience, and a child's sense of belonging. And those early years matter more than we often realize.
The strongest relationships aren't built overnight.
They're built through showing up, again and again.
Wellness doesn't have to be complicated
Another thing I appreciated about Kristen is that she doesn't make healthy living feel overwhelming.
Food should nourish us—not stress us out.
Movement should prepare us for real life.
And wellness isn't about perfection. It's about creating simple habits that become part of who we are.
It's refreshing advice in a world that constantly tells us we need another product, another program, or another shortcut.
Press play
Whether you're already a grandparent, hope to become one someday, or simply want to age with more strength, purpose, and resilience, this conversation offers practical wisdom you can start using today.
Because the future version of you is being shaped by the choices you make right now.
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Prefer to watch? Head to YouTube.
Keep your head above the chaos, and Carrie On!
— Carrie
