[Muffie's Mom]

MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES

Every day you make choices that will influence the quality of your health.

The food you eat, the drinks you consume, the time you go to bed and get up, what thoughts you think and also what exercise you get will all decide your future weight, shape, tone of body, confidence, and energy. If you make healthy positive choices most of the time, in favour of good health better nutrition and daily balance, then you will feel the benefits.

Made some bad choices? It’s never too late to change. Set yourself some easy goals to reach such as going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, eating smaller portions, walking wherever possible and avoiding using the car. Even these very minor changes can make a difference.

Feel a bit bolder? Then try restricting your cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, and cola to the weekend only. Buy a pedometer and set a goal of 10,000 steps daily. Try setting some long term goals for work or study.

In regard to food, remind yourself that everything you eat and drink will either add to your health and energy or deplete your health and energy.

Keep a journal of food you eat for a couple of weeks including weekends. By keeping track of breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert foods, along with the drinks you consume and cigarettes smoked, you’ll get a better idea of the direction your choices are taking you.

Take this quick test to see if your choices are the best for you:

Are you dependant on tea, coffee, cola, or milo to get you going in the morning?

Are you only at your best if you have had a glass of alcohol?

Do you have a favourite TV program every night of the week?

Do you eat everything in sight including what is in the pantry?

Do your shopping habits include buying crisps, chocolate, and sweets?

Do you have a gym membership which is unused??????

Is breakfast just a slice of toast or a piece of fruit?

Sound like you? From this moment on, try making some good choices more regularly!

1. If you really must watch TV, try videoing your favourites and hit the sack earlier. Aim for 8 hours sleep every night for a week. You won’t want to go back to your old routines – guaranteed.

2. Go for a walk every day in the morning, at lunchtime or in the evening – rain, wind, or shine. You will feel uplifted and stronger both emotionally and physically.

3. Eat breakfast every day as a real meal – muesli or porridge (try Healtheries Bircher Muesli), or wholegrain toast and an egg. Take your ingredients and eat them at work if you are worried about being late.

4. No snacks for lunch. Have a proper wholegrain bread sandwich with chicken or tuna and salad. See how much better you will feel in the afternoon when you have had this.

5. Swap tea, coffee, cola, or hot chocolate for pure fruit juices, water, herbal teas (Healtheries Pomegranate and Grape is a great start), or spirulina drinks and watch your energy levels increase.

Make your choices now for a better deal from life.