Healthy for Life

Hi people! A lot of people think that healthy eating is too expensive and can take too much time to prepare. Try to rearrange your schedule to free up some time to cook some nutritious meals. Take one or two days during the week and do some batch cooking such as soups, hot dishes, or cut up vegetables for side dishes that are ready to heat up. Plan your meals ahead of time with your favorite recipes for easy access. Fresh vegetables are still one of the least expensive ways to add to your nutritious consumption. Shopping at your local co-op or health food store can be more affordable when buying items in bulk like whole grains, pastas, oils, etc. Snack items like chips, crackers, cookies, and various prepackaged items will be spendy. Going for the simple, non-processed foods and checking out the specials of the week will go much easier on the wallet. Give it a little thought and plan ahead for a better eating lifestyle. Your body will thank you!

If you have any health topics, health success stories or a family recipe for a health cure, please email me at juls11@ peoplepc.com or drop it off at Hometown Focus. Thanks for your support!

Walk This Way

As you should know by now, walking can be fabulous for many reasons. Besides being an inexpensive way to get some exercise, you can get outdoors, enjoy the scenery, breathe in some fresh air and it’s easy on the environment as well. It is a good time to get together with your friends, loved ones or taking your dog for a walk. Make sure you have some good walking shoes and be sure to watch your step for any obstacles that could be in your pathway. Dress in bright clothing so you are highly visible.

The time of day that is best walking for you may vary individually. If you are a person that gets hot easily and feels uncomfortable in the heat, you may want to walk when the temperature is cooler, such as early morning or evening. And for those of you who get cold easy, dress in layers, or walk in temperatures when the sun or the day is the warmest like 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Be sure to take water with you if you are going on long treks. Wear a hat or sunglasses if the sun is bright to protect yourself from the rays. And if you are walking longer than 15-20 minutes you may want to wear a sun block.

If you are counting calories pedometers are a great way to help motivate you to stay active. There are many different models out there that will monitor your steps and miles too. Certain walking or hiking places will also tell you how many miles you are doing. How many calories you burn depends on the pace of your walk. Slow walking - burns 4 calories per min. Brisk walking - burns 7 calories per min. Power walking - burns 10 calories per minute

Be sure to pay attention to your breathing. If you have outdoor allergies you may want to wear one of those outdoor facemasks. I know they’re not cute but they work! Be sure to stretch lightly before walking and more extensively after walking to help prevent soreness or any injuries. The curb or a step is a perfect place to stretch out those legs and calf muscles. Here’s to safe and happy walking!