Stay Healthy with Dr. Garth Graham and the Aetna Foundation #GoLocalGrants

This post is sponsored by the Aetna Foundation. All opinions are my own.

Staying healthy is so important, especially during the holiday season. You want to make sure that you are healthy so you can visit with family and friends during this joyous time, not to mention be able to enjoy the delicious food and partake in the fun activities going on. Thankfully Dr. Garth Graham, the president of the Aetna Foundation, has some great tips to help you stay happy and healthy during this holiday season.

1. Eat well.When grocery shopping for large (or small) family meals, choose fresh, seasonal, nutritious foods as often as possible. When fresh is not possible, keep in mind that frozen and canned fruits and vegetables still offer a healthy option. To guard against nutrient loss be sure to eat your frozen fruits and veggies soon after purchase and steam or microwave them rather than boiling to minimize the loss of water-soluble vitamins.

2. Cook together.As you plan and cook meals for your friends and family over the holidays, inviting your children to cook with you is a great way to teach them about nutrition and better food choices.

3. Get off the couch. It can be tempting to curl up on the couch and stay warm and dry during the cold winter months, but find ways to stay active with your family – like interactive dancing video games, an indoor game of hide-and-seek, or dancing during commercials while you watch your favorite TV show.

Find more healthy living tips for your family at http://www.aetna-foundation.org/

Some other ways for Making Healthy Choices including going to your local farmer’s market (visit the USDA National Farmer’s Market Directory to find one near you), letting your kids pick their fruits and vegetables at the farmer’s market, and volunteering your knowledge that your local parks department and through the American Community Gardening Association.

I love that the Aetna Foundation is working to increase access for undeserved communities to healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables. You probably don’t realize this, but your zip code is a greater indicator of your health and longevity than your genetic code (according to the CDC). It’s sad that there are more than 49 million Americans (including 15.8 million children) that live in a food insecure household. I know I’m fortunate enough to be able to provide my daughter with more than enough food, and it makes me so sad that there’s children out there that don’t have that security.

Thankfully Aetna is working to help people live healthier lives community by community. Just locally in Cincinnati, The Children’s Home of Cincinnati, Ohio received a $25,000 grant for their Nutrition Matters Initiative and the Center for Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati received a $50,000 grant for their Do Right! Kids Mt. Auburn Auburn & Walnut Hills program. These GoLocal grants were awarded to organization that engaged local residents in the following ways:

• Nutrition education and/or cooking classes
• Distributing produce reflecting local ethnic and cultural food traditions
• Providing ways to learn job skills
• Generating opportunities to support the project through community service or volunteering

I love when organizations help communities – it really can make the world of difference in a child’s life.

How are you staying healthy this holiday season?

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