‘Tis the Season to be Healthy

December 7, 2015

If you’re like most people, this time of year doesn’t exactly inspire extra workouts and light meals. And if you’re like most people, when January rolls around you’re motivated to get moving again in an effort to trim that bit of holiday “cheer” you accumulated during the season.

As members of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), we encourage busy families to check out their Together Counts™ program. A robust resource for teachers and parents, over the holiday season you’ll find free motivation to get ahead of the splurge with simple tips and tweaks to your usual routine.

This is also a good time to talk to your kids about alcohol. At holiday parties, family events, and other festivities with kids and adults intermixed – might not be the most convenient time to have a conversation. Get ahead of it. As you wrap up a bottle for a host gift or decide ahead of time how you will get home, have conversations in front of your kids and allow them to hear what responsible, smart decisions sound like. It’s important to answer their questions and find out what they’re curious about so you can give them the facts about why adults can drink alcohol and kids can’t. Here are some conversation starters to help you answer their questions with facts.

Instead of indulging now—with high hopes of rightsizing your portions, and your waistband in the new year—try to end 2015 with a healthy start and a few new habits. These three simple tips can help!

  • #1 Take the long view. Starting today and for the next 30-45 days, make one or two small changes daily and stick with it! Take the stairs. Eat breakfast. Notice your portion size at every meal. All of these simple tweaks can improve overall wellness and after 21 days…new routines become habit.
  • #2 Kids are on their best behavior this month, out to demonstrate who’s been naughty or nice…and they may be watching you too! Make your healthy, active lifestyle a family priority by involving the kids and modeling those healthy habits.
  • #3 Thinking bigger than yourself? Enter to win a healthy playground makeover on behalf of your local school. There’s no better way to say Happy Holidays than to bring hope for healthier kids to your community with a $30,000 grant.  To learn more visit TogetherCounts.com. #HealthyCommunities