Each month Cindy Silver, a Registered Dietitian, gives us a great tips to stay healthy.  Read on to find out about some fun activities, recipes and other facts to keep you and your family healthy all year long!

 

It’s American Diabetes Month!

As a registered dietitian, I’ve met many people with diabetes over the years. Some take good care of themselves and have relatively few other health issues while others basically neglect their own health. American Diabetes Month is a great time to step back and think about prevention and management of diabetes. By eating well-balanced meals on a consistent time schedule, walking 30 minutes every day and taking meds recommended by the doctor, diabetes can be managed. By reaching a lighter body weight if needed, diabetes can be prevented. My vote, as always, goes to prevention! On that note, here’s a really good resource to share with a friend or family member who is facing diabetes, Small Steps=Big Rewards.

Healthy Lunch in a Bag!

Re-fueling with good nutrition at midday is really important. Here are 2 economical, tasty and healthy ways to deal with lunchtime. Remember to use an insulated lunch bag to keep everything cold and safe.

Veggie Delight: Cold kidney bean salad mixed with feta cheese cubes, cut up cucumbers, tomatoes and olives, and drizzled with vinaigrette dressing; half bagel; orange.

Protein Lover: Left over roast beef on whole wheat bread with mustard, lettuce, tomato; side dish 1%  cottage cheese; carrots and/or small banana.

Kids & Diabetes!

It’s a serious situation for kids and diabetes these days. Like never before, kids are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mostly as a result of their excess body weight and inactivity. The good news is that type 2 diabetes is reversible for most kids once they get help reducing their weight and improving their overall lifestyle. Here is an excellent resource about how to help kids in their struggle.

How to Help Kids Beat Diabetes

• Be a role model for light and healthy food and beverage choices
• Get physically active with kids by trying Zumba
• Take an active part in your community by promoting wellness and good nutrition

Help new moms learn how to help their kids beat diabetes

Start a team to improve fitness for you and the kids who depend on you

Healthy Skin Makes Everyone Look Younger!

Are you interested in looking younger? If you answered ‘yes’ then listen up. November is Healthy Skin Month and it’s time to learn ways we can not only keep that youthful glow, but also reduce our risk for serious problems such as skin cancer.

Ways to Keep Your Skin Looking Young

• Stay well-hydrated by drinking water
• Eat at least 5 or more servings of fruits and/or vegetables a day
• Make healthy food choices your standard ‘fare’ every day

Ways to Prevent Skin Problems

• Watch out for unusual-looking moles on your body and alert your doctor
• Use sunscreen before exposure to bright sun
• Use protective clothing, hat and UV-blocking sunglasses

National Family Caregivers’ Month!

Caring for one or more family members can be an emotionally rewarding and draining experience all at once. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to support yourself as you support those you care about. This can mean having a heart-to-heart talk with a brother or sister about sharing the care giving for an aging parent. Or, it can mean asking your spouse to help out with child care more often. Here’s a Care Giver’s Tool Box from the Veteran’s Administration of the US government to help with getting organized, and here is a handy website with a variety of resources including a bi-monthly magazine.