Invest your health

It’s important to take care of both your mind and body. It will pay off in many ways, including:
Allowing you to take charge of your life and feel good about the choices you make.
Gaining energy and feeling more fit.
Improving your physical health.
Gaining a positive outlook and finding more enjoyment in your life.
Being a role model for your family and friends.

Any lifestyle change is a “work in progress.” Lasting changes take time. So, begin by setting small goals that are easy to add to your daily life and that you control. Wellness and fitness involve being aware and making healthy choices about diet, exercise, and staying positive. This is the most important investment you can make in your life. Strive for the best health you can have in all areas of your life by making mindful, healthy choices.
Path to improved wellness

Caring for your physical health through proper diet and nutrition

Whether your meal preparation is for yourself or your family, focus on making smart, healthy meals. Tips for success include:

Make an effort to have more home-cooked meals. This can help encourage healthy eating. Also, it promotes more family time.
Let your kids help plan what to eat. Kids love to help make meals and snacks.
Keep healthy snacks on hand to help kids make good choices. Have more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Have fewer chips and sweets.
Teach kids to eat when they’re hungry, not when they’re bored, sad, or angry. Respect their ability to know when they feel full.
Breakfast helps jump start the day. It provides fuel for an active lifestyle and gives you and your child the energy to think faster and more clearly.
Play “Put the Fork Down” at meals. Put your forks down between bites and take turns sharing your day.
Balance. Balance what you eat to meet your need for nutrition and enjoyment.
Variety. Enjoy all foods from important food groups (fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy, and whole grains).
Moderation. Focus on feeling comfortable instead of being too full after you eat. Use moderation when choosing less nutritious foods.

A food and activity journal can help you understand your eating patterns. Also, it can help you find ways to make simple, healthy changes. Ask your family doctor about how to get started.

When unhealthy food choices lead to weight gain, some people turn to popular diets to achieve quick weight loss. Diets usually tell you what you should or should not eat. Instead, focus on understanding why you eat in the first place. Are you eating because you are hungry, bored, sad, or angry? Is there something else causing your urge to eat? Also, don’t restrict your foods. Try to balance between good and bad choices. Make good choices more often and limit the bad foods to small portions once in awhile. For lasting dietary changes, there are some simple keys to eating healthy. Start by asking yourself if you are hungry. Hunger signals your body when it needs to be nourished. Let hunger tell you when you need to eat and how much to eat.

True hunger signals:

hunger pangs, gnawing, growling, or rumbling in your stomach
weakness or loss of energy
slight headache or trouble concentrating
irritability