Health has undoubtedly remained top of mind for everyone since the coronavirus pandemic swept the world into a frenzy months ago.
It seems like now, more than ever, it’s pertinent to focus on making choices — both physically and mentally — that prioritize our health as much as we can, as our choices in the realm of wellness are one of the few things that we can control.
And while that may seem difficult to do, the key to staying sane and staying well while raising a family comes down to one word for actress and singer Hilary Duff: balance.
“It’s important to instill the information in your kids so that they make the right choices right off the bat,” Duff tells AOL. “And that comes from what we do in our households to what we put in our bodies. And I’m not saying that everything we do here is healthy, but we definitely have a balance.”
Leading by example is something the star excels at, whether it’s through her role as a powerhouse Editor in TV Land’s beloved ‘Younger’ or through her activism in raising funds for COVID-19 relief through a nostalgic table read reunion with the cast of the hit show ‘Lizzie McGuire’ via Instagram.
Most recently, Duff has helped launch a new plant-powered kids beverage called Creative Roots.
“It’s clinically shown to better hydrate your kids,” Duff says of the new beverage. “It tastes good, it’s a better-for-you option than a lot of things on the market … it just ticked all the boxes for me.”
The mother to Luca, 8, and Banks, 1, admits that making sure her kids are staying healthy during the day is a “constant worry”, but in the wake of coronavirus, those worries seem to magnify.
“I think the thing that’s scary is that there’s constant news coming out weekly about different side effects of this virus and who it’s affecting and why and what percentage of people deal with this long term effect or that,” she explains. “That’s what’s scary for me, is the unpredictability.”
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Hilary Duff out and about
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 27: Actress and mom Hilary Duff announces the ‘Imagine If, With Jif’ contest kick off with Jif� Peanut Butter on August 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Jif)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 26: Hilary Duff is seen on July 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG002/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 05: Hilary Duff seen on the streets of Manhattan on June 05, 2018 in New York, NY. (Photo by Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 04: Hilary Duff attends ‘Younger’ season 5 premiere party at Cecconi’s Dumbo on June 4, 2018 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 19: Actress Hilary Duff attends the Vulture Festival Presented By AT&T – Milk Studios, Day 1 at Milk Studios on May 19, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for Vulture Festival)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 27: Hilary Duff is seen filming ‘Younger’ in Union Square on March 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 19: Actress Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma are seen walking in Soho on December 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: Hilary Duff attends the 2017 Entertainment Weekly Pre-Emmy Party at Sunset Tower on September 15, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/ WireImage)
LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS — Episode 550 — Pictured: Actress/singer Hilary Duff arrives on June 28, 2017 — (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 27: Hilary Duff attends ‘Younger’ season four premiere party at Mr. Purple on June 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 19: Singer/Actress Hilary Duff is seen is seen walking in Midtown on June 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 19: Singer/Actress Hilary Duff is seen is seen walking in Midtown on June 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 13: Actress Hilary Duff is seen filming ‘Youger’ in Union Square on June 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 12: Actress Hilary Duff is seen filming ‘Younger’ in Union Square on June 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 13: Actress Hilary Duff is seen filming ‘Youger’ in Union Square on June 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 12: Actress Hilary Duff is seen filming ‘Younger’ in Union Square on June 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 26: Hilary Duff and Molly Bernard are seen filming ‘Younger’ on April 26, 2017 in New York, New York. (Photo by Alessio Botticelli/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 05: Actress Actress Hilary Duff is seen walking in Soho on April 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 07: Actress Hilary Duff attends a toast to Michele Promaulayko, the new Editor-In-Chief of Cosmopolitan, on March 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Cosmopolitan)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 07: Hilary Duff attends the Callie Collection Wines launch event with Hilary Duff at La Sirena on March 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Callie Collection)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 28: Hilary Duff is seen on February 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG015/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Hilary Duff brightens up her blonde with celebrity hairstylist, Riawna Capri and Joico’s Blonde Life on February 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 01: Hilary Duff is seen on February 01, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG015/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 28: Hilary Duff arrives at the Entertainment Weekly hosts celebration honoring nominees for The Screen Actors Guild Awards held at Chateau Marmont on January 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 27: Actress Hilary Duff attends Harper’s Bazaar Celebrates 150 Most Fashionable Women at Sunset Tower Hotel on January 27, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 09: Hilary Duff is seen on January 09, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG009/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 08: Actress Hilary Duff arrives at the 18th Annual Post-Golden Globes Party hosted by Warner Bros. Pictures and InStyle at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 08: Hilary Duff is seen on December 08, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG015/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 13: Hilary Duff and Jason Walsh are seen at LAX on November 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 30: Actress Hilary Duff attends Entertainment Weekly’s Popfest at The Reef on October 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Hilary Duff is seen on October 27, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by BG005/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 30: Actor Nico Tortorella and actress Hilary Duff attend Entertainment Weekly’s Popfest at The Reef on October 30, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 28: Singer/Actress Hilary Duff is seen walking in Soho on September 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: Hilary Duff is seen at LAX on September 29, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by starzfly/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 27: Peter Hermann, Miriam Shor, Hilary Duff, Molly Bernard, Debi Mazar, Sutton Foster and Nico Tortorella attends the ‘Younger’ Season 3 & ‘Impastor’ Season 2 New York Premiere at Vandal on September 27, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Hilary Duff attends the Build Series to discuss ‘Younger’ at AOL HQ on September 26, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Pont/WireImage)
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The ever-changing landscape of information pertaining to the pandemic can make deciding what to share and what not to share with your children confusing, something that Duff has been successfully navigating with her son, Luca.
“My daughter’s too young to know what’s going on or to understand what we’re talking about,” Duff explains. “But it’s been a really great opportunity to share with Luca and to explain exactly what’s going on. And we don’t overdo it because I don’t want it at the forefront of his brain always or to cause him anxiety. But we put the news on and we have lots of conversations about what’s going on and he just instantly grabs a mask if we have to leave the house, he just goes to the basket and grabs a mask and that’s it. He understands why.”
And though Duff’s 8-year-old son follows her lead when it comes to mask-wearing guidelines, her frustration lies with those who don’t seem to be able to do the same.
Over the fourth of July weekend, Duff went viral for commentary on an Instagram post where she called out a “raging” house party she drove by, earning both praise and criticism for her blunt call outs of partygoers not wearing masks and ignoring social distancing protocols.
“It’s about having respect for other people that are at risk,” Duff tells AOL. “It’s crazy to me — I’m so embarrassed for our country right now. When you look at other countries who have really come together, caring about their whole community and just showing love and respect for each other, we can’t do that and we can’t stay focused long enough to get lower numbers. Everyone wants to go back to normal and it’s so crazy that one weekend you need to party your face off and be at a house party with 300 people with no one wearing masks. I know I’m in a different stage in my life but trust me I like to have a few drinks just as much as the next person and celebrate the 4th of July. It’s just a bummer that we’re not all more caring.”
The star has been spending her quarantine picking up new habits, like learning to play the guitar and catching up with her girlfriends in socially distanced dinner parties that she’s hosted.
Duff has also used this period to spend quality time with her two children but is honest about the burnout that comes with being a full-time stay-at-home parent seemingly suddenly.
As an actress who’s been in the industry since she was 12 years old, switching from long periods of shooting and working to being inside your home in a near-instant can be just as debilitating at times as it is gratifying.
“I have this guilt of overcompensating for the time I do have with them, that everything has to be filled and I have to be in playtime with them entertaining them super involved,” Duff tells AOL. “When I’m working, I can find that balance because being around [my kids] rejuvenates me and energizes me and I crave that time. But this is all day, every day, no break and it’s unsustainable … it’s been really nice to tell my kids no a little bit more and then to really enjoy the time that I do get with them.”
Duff stresses that “there’s no judgment on what people are doing right now”, as we’re all trying to navigate our way through the pandemic the best — and safest — way that we can.
That is, of course, unless you break one major guideline.
“No judgment unless you go outside without a mask on,” Duff says. “Then that’s all the judgment.”
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