Healthy Living: What a Difference It Can Make

At Smart Neighbor, we understand how important it is to eat what’s good for you and what an impact it makes on healthy living. This March, we’re celebrating National Nutrition Month® by being mindful of food choices and by getting plenty of exercise.

A Commitment to Living Well

Creating healthy habits is simple when you start off small. It’s easy to take a walk around the block during lunchtime (weather permitting), commit to taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or even to sign up for a yoga class. Making a commitment begins with making a decision—whether that is to exercise more or to replace fried foods with salads, or both!

You Are What You Eat

Making healthy food choices is easier when those choices are part of your lifestyle. By committing to, say, eating a handful of nuts every day, you are providing your body with heart-healthy fats as well as protein and dietary fiber. And, you’ll stave off hunger.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends swapping out unhealthy fats for healthy ones, such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and lake trout), walnuts, flaxseed, and eggs—which are sources of omega-3 fatty acids—and nuts, avocado, and peanut butter, which are sources of cholesterol-improving monounsaturated fats. Making even small swaps (for example, replacing butter and margarine with canola or soybean oil) can make a big difference over time. Both omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats can reduce your risk of heart disease, so what’s not to love?

An Apple a Day

Surrounding yourself with healthy food choices and buying only healthy options can go a long way toward giving yourself the best chances of eating right. Making sure to include a balance from all of the food groups ensures that your diet is well-rounded and cravings don’t set you off course. And, once you get into the habit of eating well, it will be easier to make nutritious choices when eating away from home.

Keeping certain kitchen helpers on hand, like the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender with 14-Ounce Travel Cup, can promote healthful choices. The blender is great for making nutrient-packed smoothies you can take with you on the go. Another wonderful resource is a food dehydrator, which allows you to make wholesome snacks like dried apples, bananas, apricots, or whatever else strikes your fancy (hint: you can even use it to make dried herbs).

And, of course, the age-old wisdom of staying hydrated always applies. After all, our bodies are 50–65% water. The Mayo Clinic recommends that adults drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. To help you keep track of your hydration, the Thermos Connected Hydration Bottle with Smart Lid communicates with your Fitbit to track your H2O intake.

Regardless of your age or stage of life, you can thrive. We all start from somewhere, so why not start today, from wherever you are. Committing to living a healthy lifestyle and taking care of your body is honoring yourself. And we say, you’re worth it!