Happy Healthy New Year!

Winter is the perfect time of year to get moving with family and friends!

Daily physical activity helps adults and children use the calories they get from food so they don't gain weight.  The New Year is a great time to make healthy changes that will last a lifetime.


Here are some easy ways to be more active:

• Visit your local community center for activities and team games.
• Bundle up and walk children to and from school.
• Turn off the television and turn on some music for dancing.  Invite the whole family to join you!
• Invite some neighbors to make a snowman with you and then take a winter walk together.
• Have a scavenger hunt inside the house.  Hide several small items throughout the house and let the children try to find them.
• Play a game of charades.  Children love to act out different things so think of ideas that will get your children to move all around!
• Clean the house.  You can still get physical activity while cleaning the house.  Sweeping, mopping, running the vaccuum cleaner or even going up and down the steps are great ideas.
• Have a competition.  Push-ups, sit-ups and even hopping or jumping jacks can be fun to do together.

Make sure to drink plenty of water each day, especially after physical activity.  Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to your glass for a great cool-down beverage!  Don't forget a healthy snack to  fuel-up before or re-fuel after physical activity.   Some healthy snack ideas are:

• Slice apples and celery sticks for dipping in peanut butter or sunflower seed butter.
• Pack whole grain crackers and small cubes of low-fat cheese.
• Pop some popcorn and season it with chili powder and garlic powder for a healthy, whole grain snack.
• Cut up fresh broccoli, cauliflower, carrots or peppers and dip in hummus or low-fat salad. dressing.
• Mix whole grain cereal with raisins and nuts to make trail mix.