By Lindsay Wolfman, RD Thanksgiving dinner can easily add up to 4,000 calories. Holidays tend to be food-focused, but you can make these foods healthier. This year, start by making better choices. Here are some tips to help you avoid that calorie-packed plate this Thanksgiving. Turkey: A lean protein, turkey has virtually no saturated fat unless you purchase a self-basting turkey that has been injected with butter or oil. Avoid these and baste your bird with low-fat, low-salt broth, wine or juice. Mashed potatoes: Save yourself some work, leave the skins on. They provide fiber and potassium. Or try mashed…
Category: Reach
By Wyatt Hornsby Did you know tooth decay is the most prevalent chronic disease of early childhood in Colorado? Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma and can lead to painful cavities, missed schools days and many other problems affecting a childs development and self-esteem. The good news is that cavities are preventable in nearly every case. With Halloween and a season of sweet treats upon us, its important for parents to know how they can help protect their kids teeth from sugar bugs, which can lead to decay and painful cavities. Here are some tips for families…
Its not enough for schools around Colorado to serve nutritious food in breakfast and lunch programs. To reap the benefits, students have to eat it as well. The LiveWell@School Food Initiative strives to ensure all children in Colorado have access to and choose healthy food at school by 2022. We know these are critical elements to reversing our childhood obesity trends. As the place where our children spend the majority of their time during their formative years, schools can act as our natural ally in ensuring our children have access to healthy food necessary for their growing minds and bodies….
The evenings are getting cooler and the days shorter. Dont let your exercise routine go by the wayside. Join family and friends outdoors for some fall activities before the snow flies. Rake your leaves into a big pile. Jump and play in the leaves and then do it again! Take a walk to find pretty fall leaves to use in art projects and home decorations. Organize a friendly game of flag or touch football. Get lost (and found again) in a corn maze. Walk around a pumpkin patch to find the perfect one. Take a trip to the country to…
By Maren Stewart During the Get Movin Challenge, Coloradans embarked on a 30-day challenge to prove that Colorado is the biggest mover by getting active 30 minutes a day. On Aug. 1, LiveWell Colorado and Gov. John Hickenlooper kicked off the challenge to make Colorado the healthiest state in the nation. So how did the state do? More than 8,170 Coloradans participated. 37,800,000 calories were collectively burned, or 10,800 pounds shed! More than 92,500 hours of physical activity were logged. Thats more than a decades worth of movement. 300,000 miles of activity were traveled, or 780 trips across the state…
By Mark Siebert Do you want to get the most calorie burn out of your workout? Are you finding that you are hitting a plateau? Interval training could be a great option. Interval training is alternating high intensity activity with lower intensity activity. Whether your exercise of choice is walking, running, using cardio equipment or group exercise, intervals can help you get the most from your efforts. After prolonged exercise at the same intensity, your body naturally adapts and becomes more efficient, needing less effort to perform the same activity. Adding intervals can help provide that high intensity exercise in…
By Maren C. Stewart I am excited to announce the launch of our statewide Colorado Get Movin Challenge to help motivate thousands of Coloradans to kick-start a healthier lifestyle through physical activity while also demonstrating that we are the most active state in the nation. As Coloradans, we are proud of the active lifestyle our state offers. Yet, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 52 percent of Colorado adults achieve the recommended 30 minutes of daily activity, and 18 percent reported no physical activity during the last month. The Colorado Get Movin Challenge,…
By Liza Schrank An ancient mind-body practice, meditation uses breathing to quiet the mind and help us become more present in what we do. It is rooted in Eastern religion, and while there is no consensus on the definition of meditation, it has been described as a defined technique, logical relaxation, and a self-induced state. Other elements may include a state of psycho-physical relaxation, self-focus, mental silence (or an altered state of consciousness), a mystic experience, enlightenment or suspension of logical thought processes. One of the many beauties of meditation is that it allows us to become more mindful in…
By Jamie Atlas Whether youre celebrating birthdays, promotions or Friday afternoon, the work environment can add unexpected challenges to your healthy intentions. However, you can turn these occasions into opportunities for you and your work associates to eat healthy and be physically active together. Eat a high protein, fiber-rich breakfast before heading to work. Youll kick-start your metabolism to burn more calories and youll be less likely to fall prey to treats lurking around the office. Have healthy snacks at your desk and take them with you if youre visiting the break room. Dehydration is often mistaken for hunger. If…
By Kristen Frie Why do we continue to gain weight year after year? The simple answer is the imbalance between calories in and calories out. But learning to manage portion control and mindless eating can make a difference. Many times we find ourselves in a pattern of mindless eating, making food-related decisions in a highly distracting environment. Brian Wansinks research found that people underestimate the number of food decisions made each day and how environmental cues (such as music, television or dining with others) can influence our ability to react to cues of fullness can influence these decisions. A learned…