Healthy choices: What ONE thing will you do differently this year?
Yes, this is a New Year’s Resolution article. And yes, many people make resolutions about healthy choices that they don’t keep. But your health is more important than a fad diet or weight-loss gimmick.
Research health information from sources you trust and choose ONE thing you want to change to improve your health. Whether you are reading this in early January or much later in the year, it is always a good time to make healthier choices.
What ONE thing will you change when you make healthier choices this year?
SHARE your goal in the comments (and read what ONE thing other people are changing in 2016, too!).
You might already know what you need to do. Maybe your doctor has advised a positive change for your health, or you have been researching health information on your own. Or you could choose something from Life’s Simple 7 from the American Heart Association:
- Get Active
- Control Cholesterol
- Eat Better
- Manage Blood Pressure
- Lose Weight
- Reduce Blood Sugar
- Stop Smoking
My Life Check® was designed by the American Heart Association with the goal of improved health by educating the public on how best to live. Take small steps toward a healthier life by getting your free heart score and custom plan today.
Make healthy choices for the family
Kansas Action for Children is making it easier for families with young children to make healthier choices. The Think Big! Start Small. campaign builds on the momentum of the organization’s Pass on Pop: Soda-free Sundays initiative, through which more than 3,000 individuals and organizations across the state pledged to skip sweet drinks, like soda, each Sunday in 2014.
Thing Big! Start Small. focuses on four key messages for young children:
- Better Beverages: Beverages play a big role in children’s health. Choosing better beverages—like water or low-fat milk—is best for healthy development.
- Unplug Under 2: Screentime interferes with healthy brain development. Limit screentime to less than two hours for kids two and older.
- Breastfeeding Benefits: Breastfeeding has many benefits. It reduces infants’ risk of infection and disease and lowers moms’ risk of health problems, like diabetes.
- Right Rewards: Teach kids healthy habits. Don’t reward good behavior with unhealthy foods and don’t use physical activity as a form of punishment.
Visit www.thinkbigstartsmallks.com for more information.
Use the library to make healthy choices
Commit to making a positive change in your health in 2016. The local library is a great place to start making progress on your healthy goal. Libraries help people learn new things, research possibilities and make life changes every day.
The resources in the Health Information Neighborhood are designed to help support you as you improve your health — including a LifeClinic station for monitoring your blood pressure and pulse, and a digital scale for monitoring your weight and BMI. Use your library card to check out:
- exercise DVDs
- strength training and nutrition books
- recipes for specialized diets
- fitness kits including jump ropes and kettlebells
- popular entertainment movies to watch on the treadmill
Health Information Librarian Lissa Staley is available to assist your research – email estaley@tscpl.org or call 785-580-4629 to make an appointment.
Image credit: adapted from Flickr user atache
