Posts Tagged ‘food choices’

Tips for Healthy Resolutions

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

As the new year approaches, many of us are thinking about resolutions.  At the top of most people’s list is the desire to become healthier.We all want to be healthy, some of us know how to do so, but don’t force ourselves.  Others aren’t sure how, therefore can’t quite do it.  Below are a few tips for becoming a healthier you.

1. Have Joy In Your Life- Leave time in your schedule for friendships and fun times with family. Quality time means turning the TV and the computer off and spending time with your loved ones.
2. Stop Smoking- Stop the use of any form of tobacco.  This is one of the most important steps in getting healthy.  Tobacco is the leading cause of some cancers and other oral health issues.
3. Get Moving- You don’t have to begin a high endurance workout routine, just move your body. Moderate aerobic exercise is a good way to improve your health. It’s great for your mood, for your heart and of course, for your waistline.
4. Get Colorful- Colorful fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants.  Antioxidants aid in slowing the cellular aging process. They also give us energy.  Think of your dinner plate as an artists palate and try to incorporate many different colors.
5. Get Your Checkup- Be sure you get all the annual checkups you need as well as the scheduled tests for your specific age.  This includes colonoscopies, mammograms and routine bloodwork.  This will help you maintain optimum health and catch any other problems in their early stages.

Out health is often last on the list in our busy overscheduled lives, until there is a problem.  Take the time for yourself.  It makes you a better partner, a better parent, a better spouse and a better employee.  In many cases once you see symptoms of a health concern it is too late and treatment can be far more involved.  Stay active and take care of yourself as a start for a healthy happy new year.

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Kids and Eating Healthy

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

It is said that our eating habits are formed when we are young.  If this is so then why do we feed our kids nuggets, fries and pizza on a regular basis? And why don’t adults eat these items daily as most kids do?  Either way, it is important to teach kids good healthy eating habits, and how to make good food choices.  But how in the world do you start with a 4 year old who is reluctant to try a new flavor of ice cream, let alone a new vegetable?

A few steps to get your child on the road to a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits are as follows;
* Start by being a good role model. Be sure you are in the habit of practicing the eating and exercise habits you’d like your children to have. The example you set is your child’s most powerful learning tool.
* Increase active time. Make physical activity a necessary part of your family’s daily life. Set time limits on your child’s daily inactive time. Give them a schedule for  TV and computer time to no more than 2 hours a day.
* Eat breakfast together as a family. Having breakfast with your child will  help them learn a lifelong habit of good eating. We all know you HAVE to eat breakfast in order to fuel your body.
* Involve your child in planning the family meals and grocery shopping. When your child is old enough, teach him or her about how to prepare food, cooking and food safety and, later, how to use and understand food label information. While allowing  your child to have a a role in the meal decision making, remember that you must still have the final say in food planning.
* Involve your child in the cooking. This is very important. Children enjoy helping their parents out, and they learn more easily with hands-on experience. They will also sharpen other skills, such as reading and math, when counting or measuring ingredients.

When attempting to have your child try new foods at a meal, you should also be sure to include a food that your child likes. Don’t be discouraged if it takes several tries before your child will actually accept and eat a new food. On average, it takes 8 to 12 tries for a child to accept a new food.  This is one of those tough lessons in life where you as a parent have to be strong.  This is one case where it IS worth the challenge to get your child to develop good habits for a healthy life and a long future.

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