Thursday, September 30, 2010

Walk To School On October 6TH!

Join families and kids from across the globe and walk to school with your children on October 6th.

 In 1997, the Partnership for a Walkable America sponsored the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago, modeled after the United Kingdom’s lead. Back then, it was simply a day to bring community leaders and children together to create awareness of the need for communities to be walkable.

By the year 2002, children, parents, teachers and community leaders in all 50 states joined nearly 3 million walkers around the world to celebrate the second annual International Walk to School Day. The reasons for walking grew just as quickly as the event itself.

  • Walk to enhance the health of your kids.  Increased physical activity can combat a host of health problems facing kids today.
  • Walk to draw attention to the need to provide safer routes for kids to walk and bike.  We need good sidewalks and safety education programs (for walkers and for drivers).
  • Walk to school to recuce the use of your car and improve the air quality.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Work Up A Sweat!

Vigorous work-outs (you should be breathing hard and sweating!) help your heart pump better, give you more energy and help you look and feel your best.  Start with a warm-up that stretches your muscles.  Include 20 minutes of aerobic activity, such as running, jogging or dancing.  Follow-up with activities that help make you stronger such as lifting light weights.  Then cool-down with more stretching and deep breathing.

Try to work out a minimum of 3 times a week.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Rediscover How To Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals

Jamie Oliver started cooking at the age of eight.  He has nine cookbooks in print.  His latest, "Jamie's Food Revolution" is about cooking good food from scratch.  Being able to do this is a skill that can save you money, keep you healthy, and make you and your family happy.

This cookbook includes recipes for meals everyone loves to eat and it breaks them down to make them as simple as possible.  Even if you have never cooked before you will achieve amazing results in the kitchen.

Jamie also believes that every single person should be able to cook.  His "Food Revolution" is also about learning how to make a recipe, then handing that recipe on to family and friends.

Find this book on the new nonfiction shelf in the library in 641.5.  Cook something today and pass it on.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Lose Weight! Gain Energy! Get Healthy!

If a little incentive will help you get started on an exercise, weight loss program, you may want to check out the following:

Weight Loss Challenge!

Thursdays, Beginning September 23, 2010

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

The Wellness Club
2534 East Beltline (Next to Slumberland)
Hibbing, MN  55746

$20.00 per person

7 weeks

Topics of learning will include protein, heart health, healthy menus, digestion, carbs & ssugars, and eating out.

Contact Dave or Mitzie Calgaro
218-929-9411

Sign up now, and make the rest of your life the best of your life!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Most Americans Still Not Eating Enough Fruits, Veggies

Dieticians, doctors, and a wide range of other medical professionals continue to push the idea that everyone needs to eat more fruits and vegetables.  The CDC has yet another study that shows that even the very modest goals set by the government for fruits and vegetables comsumption are not being met.

When you shop and plan meals and snacks remember:

  • Fruits and vegetables protect your health.
  • Fruits and vegetables are easy to take and eat on the go.  It won't interfere with your active lifestyle.
  • Fruits and vegatables come in great colors and flavors.  It should not be hard to find something that you like.
  • Fruits and vegatables are key components of any weight maintenance or loss program if used in place of higher calorie foods.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

September is Healthy Aging Month

Unless you're looking forward to turning 21, getting older is almost always seen as a negative thing. But it doesn't have to be. September is Healthy Aging Month, and with these tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center, you can learn to stay safe and healthy regardless of your age.


Get smart about food safety. Now it's the egg recall, last year it was peanuts. You don't know what the next bacteria outbreak in the food supply will be, but you can make smart decisions when it comes to safely handling and eating food. Use a food thermometer to cook your food to the right temperature. Keep raw meats away from other ingredients to prevent the spread of germs. And make sure you thoroughly wash your hands and anything else that might have touched raw meat.

Know your medicines and what they interact with. Whether you take an allergy medicine or something for high blood pressure, it's up to you to know the name and dose of the medications you take. It's also important to know how those medicines could interact with food, alcohol or other medicines that your doctor might prescribe. To make it simple, check out this breakdown of medicines by category. It includes questions to ask your doctor and what to avoid when on certain medicines.

Stay on top of your screenings. Depending on your age and gender, there are different screenings that are recommended for early detection of common diseases. For men, common screenings include high blood pressure, diabetes and colon cancer. Common screenings for women include breast and cervical cancers and osteoporosis. Use these charts from the Department of Health and Human Services for men and women to track the results of your last screening, when your next appointment is scheduled and any questions you have for your doctor.

Get Moving. Exercise doesn't have to be something you dread. Pick an activity you enjoy, whether it's tennis with friends or swimming at the local pool. Be Active Your Way has lots of great suggestions for sneaking exercise into your daily life. Maybe you can fit in a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or spend some extra time in the garden pulling weeds. If you already exercise regularly, learn ways to step up your activity level. You'll keep your heart, bones and muscles strong if you make time for daily movement.

Set the stage for a healthy life no matter your age with these tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center.

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Pack Variety and Nutrition in Your Child's Lunch

When planning school day lunches there are some key facts to remember.  Go to Medline Plus "Health Day" for five easy to follow tips.