January 24, 2006
Eat Local, Play Local, Live Healthy
by Eat Right Montana
The holiday decorations are coming down, the party circuit has slowed significantly, and our minds are keen on thoughts of renewal as the New Year begins.
Of course, health resolutions rank at the top of the stack as the most popular good intentions during this time of rebirth. We hear continuously that eating healthfully and getting lots of physical activity are essential to good health and reduce our risk of chronic disease. But have we ever heard that a good way to achieve these goals of healthful eating and increased physical activity is to look for help just outside our own back door?
Throughout 2006, Eat Right Montana, a statewide coalition promoting healthful eating and active lifestyles, will be exploring the many benefits of eating locally produced foods and staying active in the local communities in which we live.
The award-winning Healthy Families campaign of Eat Right Montana is currently in its eighth year of producing monthly informational packets to support healthy living. The 2006 campaign is centered on the theme, "Eat Local, Play Local and Live Healthy."
"Eating locally produced food can positively impact our individual health as well as the health of our communities," according to Lynn Paul, an Extension Service food and nutrition specialist at Montana State University . "Not only are we reaping the benefits of fresher and more flavorful foods by choosing locally grown products, but we are keeping our dollars within the local economy and supporting the smaller family-farm operations that are so important to our entire food system."
As far as playing locally goes, the folks at a statewide organization called Big Sky State Games (BSSG) have come up with a tremendous opportunity to start the year by getting active in your local communities. Shape-Up Montana, which begins Feb. 1 and runs through May 1, is a fun competition in which groups of 4 to 10 people form a team and then keep track of and report their accumulated physical activity or weight loss.
Team members can choose the type of activity that they prefer. All activity is eventually converted to miles walked thanks to a handy conversion chart accessible to all participants.
"The program we've come up with allows people to participate in the type of physical activity they enjoy and be inspired by being part of a team." said Karen Sanford-Gall, executive director of BSSG. "The beauty of this program is the team concept. The team supports you and you are accountable to your team."
For more information on Shape-Up Montana , visit the program Web site at: http://www.bigskygames.org/shapeup/ .
Eat Right Montana is a coalition promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles. Sponsors are the American Heart Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Beef Council, Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Dietetic Association, MSU Extension Service, Montana Office of Public Instruction, Montana Team Nutrition Program, North Dakota WIC Program, and Western Dairy Council. For more information, visit www.montanadieteticassociation.org.)
Page last updated: 06/13/2006
