Resolve to Make It a Healthy 2011 with Goals Fit for the Whole Family
A Message Brought to You by First 5 Sacramento
With the New Year comes the time for making resolutions and pledging a fresh start. This year, nearly half of all Americans are expected to make New Year’s resolutions. And just like past years, one of the most common resolutions people will make is to live a healthier lifestyle. First 5 Sacramento is committed to improving the lives of children through age five and challenges you to resolve to make it a healthy 2011 for both yourself and your family.
One of the best ways you can keep your resolutions is to get your whole family involved. By working together, you and your family can support each other to meet your goals and live a healthy life. As an added bonus, making and keeping resolutions with the whole family offers a great opportunity to spend more quality time together.
First 5 Sacramento offers the following tips to help your family set – and keep – its New
Year’s resolutions:
Set goals that are attainable. Challenge your family to play a sport or do an activity
together, such as going for a walk, riding bikes or playing in the park, at least once
a week. For variety and to involve everyone encourage a different member of the
family to choose a different activity each week.
Focus on one resolution at a time and avoid “overdoing” it. With your family,
identify those goals that are most important to meet. For example, family members
who smoke should begin the quitting process right away. Smokers should focus
on “kicking the habit” (no matter how many tries it takes) before tackling another
resolution.
Start small. Rather than changing your family’s diet too abruptly, begin by serving
smaller portions and replacing one dish at a time with healthier options, such
as low-fat versions of your family’s favorites. As further encouragement, only
allow “seconds” for healthy dishes.
Create a pledge card to remind everyone of their resolutions. As a family,
design and decorate a family resolution checklist. Once your family’s card is
complete, place it in a central spot – such as the kitchen. Then, eat regular meals as
a family and support each other to help reach your goals.
Turn your resolutions into fun challenges to keep your children interested and
involved. Identify resolutions that children can track themselves, such as brushing
their teeth. Challenge your children to brush their teeth twice a day, and each time
they do, allow them to mark a chart or table with fun stickers or crayons.
Celebrate milestones to encourage everyone to keep going throughout
the year. Make resolutions – such as exercising regularly – fun by setting and
celebrating goals throughout the year. Reward regular fitness each month with a
family-friendly outing, such as visiting your local zoo.
For more information on First 5 Sacramento programs, please call 916-876-5865 or visit
online at www.first5sacramento.net.
About First 5 Sacramento
Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years
and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth
will have a meaningful impact throughout life. Based on this research, California voters
passed Proposition 10 in 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on tobacco products to
support programs for expectant parents and children ages zero to five. In the last year,
First 5 Sacramento distributed approximately $16 million a year in Prop 10 revenues to
programs and services that meet local needs. Each county has a First 5 Children and
Families Commission providing unique local services for that county. Surrounding First
5’s include: First 5 Yolo: 530-669-2475; First 5 Placer: 530-745-1304; and First 5 El
Dorado: 530-672-8298.