recommended amount of
physical activity each week.
• Only 35 – 44% of adults 75
years or older are physically active,
and 28-34% of adults ages
65-74 are physically active.
• Nearly one-third of high
school students play video or
computer games for 3 or more
hours on an average school
day.
• Children now spend more
than seven and a half hours a
day in front of a screen (e.g.,
TV, videogames, computer).
These statistics should
concern us. I’m a pretty positive
person, by nature, and the
positive thing I do take from
the stats above is that these are
all based on one thing that can
be changed, and that’s “habit”.
With some changes in our
habits, we may be able to reverse
these trends, so let’s look
at some strategies for doing
that.
(Disclaimer: I am not a
medical doctor nor a registered
dietitian. I am, though, a parent
who wants my family and my
fellow citizens to have the best
quality of life they can.)
Health Hack #1:
Nutrition and Healthy Habits
I find that I’m more likely to
make a positive change in my
habits when I focus on the
benefits of adopting the new
healthier habit, rather than the
negative feelings I may associate
with giving up an unhealthy
one. Resist thinking of what
“bad” foods or habits to remove.
Think more on incorporating
more positive choices and habits
into the daily routine.
Avoid processed foods:
The often-used adage of keeping
the bulk of grocery shopping focused
on the outer aisles/areas of
the grocery store will keep you
away from the more processed
foods and more toward the fresh
produce and meats.
Cook at home more: Since
the 1970s, the number of fast
26 Healthy Living | Summer Issue | 2018