January 10th, 2012
Winter is no reason to stay inside all day. Just because the sun is hiding doesn’t mean it’s time to hunker down and hibernate. During colder months, it is important to get the family outside and maintain activity even though there may be some frost on the ground. Besides, winter months bring on a whole new set of fun activities to explore.
Feed the Fowl
Many birds stick around for the winter, and these little friendly fowl are easy to spot on a snowy backdrop. Make your days brighter—and theirs, too—during the winter months by putting out bird feeders for your feathered friends. Send the kids out with binoculars to go search for birds and other wildlife in the neighborhood.
Treasure Hunts and Tag
Treasure hunts are also a great way to get the neighborhood kids running around. See if they can’t find certain items around the neighborhood. If it’s really snowy, maybe you can get them to identify certain neighborhood items under that white blanket. Or send the kids out for a game of tag or capture the flag. Giving them a reason to run around will keep them warm and happy throughout the winter months.
Go Ice Skating
Nothing says the holidays like bundling up the kids, lacing on the skates, and taking a spin on the ice. Most cities have annual ice rinks that open up when the winter season hits. Take the family out for a day downtown and finish it up by showing your moves on the ice and getting the family running around. Read the rest of this entry »
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December 12th, 2011
The holiday season can be the most challenging time of year to stick to a diet, lose weight, or simply maintain healthy eating habits. Some individuals reluctantly choose to deny themselves holiday treats or substitute with unsatisfying alternatives, while others are unwilling to forgo the holiday smorgasbord and may overindulge. Linda Antinoro, RD, a senior nutritionist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), offers useful tips for staying on track during the holiday season without completely missing out on this delicious time of year.
To find a balance between overindulgence and deprivation when it comes to eating during the holidays, Antinoro suggests these tips:
- Have a light snack before heading to holiday parties. Arriving hungry often results in over eating, and most likely consuming foods that are high in saturated fat and calories.
- Offer to bring your favorite healthier choice dish when attending a party to ensure that you have some healthy food options.
- When attending holiday events, stop dressing for excess. Choose form fitting slacks that leave very little “wiggle room” for over indulgences. People tend to overeat without realizing it if they are wearing lose clothing.
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Categories: McLeod, Meeker, News, Sibley |
December 12th, 2011
Minnesota Department of Health awards Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grants to fight chronic disease
Locally driven plans will create sustainable, systemic changes to support healthy choices
In a nation-leading effort to reduce chronic disease, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has awarded 18 grants to Minnesota communities to help lower the number of Minnesotans who use tobacco or who are obese or overweight.
The Statewide Health Improvement Program, also known as SHIP, will cover 51 counties, four cities and one tribal government over the next 18 months. Funding for the 18 grants totals approximately $11.3 million.
“The Statewide Health Improvement Program reflects our commitment to improving the health of our communities,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Edward Ehlinger said, “and is an important part of containing the spiraling costs of health care.”
SHIP is part of Minnesota’s historic bi-partisan health care reform initiative first signed into law in 2008. It seeks to reduce the staggering human and financial cost of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases related to insufficient physical activity, poor nutrition and commercial tobacco use. In the first two years of SHIP funding, 41 grantees covering all 87 counties and 9 tribal governments began this important work, and resulted in successes such as helping improve nutrition at 544 child care sites serving approximately 8,564 children, assisting 255 cities create plans to increase walking and bicycling, and supporting Farm to School efforts in 350 schools and 22 school districts serving at least 69,323 students. Funding for SHIP was reduced during the 2011 legislative session; therefore, fewer grantees are receiving funding this year.
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October 4th, 2011
Are American children healthy? 
The consensus is no, and the statistical analyses are troubling — to say the least. The rate of U.S. childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s, and a third of American children are now overweight or obese. With this crisis in mind, President Obama recently launched his second annual “Childhood Obesity Awareness Month” campaign that urges all Americans to take action to promote healthy eating and physical fitness habits. Developing awareness is an important step, but immediate solutions are needed to reverse this trend.
Forty years ago, 48 percent of U.S. children biked or walked to school. Today, just 12 percent of children arrive at school by bike or on foot. The benefits haven’t changed over time. Students who regularly bike or walk to school accumulate an average of 24 minutes per day of physical activity. More importantly, biking can help children create a healthy future. Overweight adolescents who participate in bicycling three to four days per week are 85 percent more likely to become healthy-weight adults. Read the rest of this entry »
Categories: McLeod, Meeker, News, Sibley |
October 3rd, 2011
Thousands of school kids expected to walk or bike to school
Governor Mark Dayton has declared October Safe Routes to School Month to highlight the benefits of walking and bicycling to school. Across Minnesota, thousands of kids are expected to walk and bicycle during events held at local schools.
The events are part of local, state and national Safe Routes to School efforts that support walking and bicycling to school year-round. Research shows that kids who walk or bicycle to school are healthier and arrive more focused and ready to learn. For example, a 15-minute walk or bicycle ride to and from school each day will help kids achieve half of their daily physical activity needs.
“Walking and bicycling to school is a great way to find time to get physically active,” said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health. “The whole community benefits when more kids walk and bicycle to school.”
In addition to the health benefits, research shows that kids who walk or bicycle to school have fewer behavior problems and tend to have better academic achievement.
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Categories: McLeod, Meeker, News, Sibley |
Winter is no reason to stay inside all day. Just because the sun is hiding doesn’t mean it’s time to hunker down and hibernate. During colder months, it is important to get the family outside and maintain activity even though there may be some frost on the ground. Besides, winter months bring on a whole new set of fun activities to explore.
