Super Bowl Surprise

ABC News recently reported that the average American will eat around 2,400 calories during the Super Bowl. That's more calories than many people need for an entire day. Although it sounds outrageous, eating 2 slices of pepperoni pizza & a few beers often tops 1,000 calories (plus a day’s worth of fat, cholesterol & salt).

However, there are easy ways to minimize caloric impact without much sacrifice.
- Make small changes. For example, if preparing food, use a lower-fat option (like a leaner cut of meat or 2% dairy product) or a healthier preparation method (e.g., baking instead of frying). Add vegetables to chili, meatloaf, or a pizza. (Search our blog for more ways!) Even ordering a ham pizza (instead of sausage or pepperoni) saves calories & fat.
- Be conscious of portion size. Eat smaller amounts. Calories from sugary & alcoholic drinks add up quickly. Smaller cups, plate, & serving utensils can help control portions.
- Alternate with healthier choices. For example, eat fresh, cut-up veggies with chicken wings. Or, drink a glass of water between cups of soda, tea, beer, etc.
- Get up & move!

Negating that many extra calories can be challenging. So,
plan to increase physical activity & make small calorie cuts for a couple of days before & after. Eat healthy, filling meals (complete with whole grains, fiber, & lean protein) to avoid overeating.

For more ideas, recipes, & tips, check out:
- EatingWell's Healthy Tailgating Recipes & Menus
- SparkPeople's The Best Foods For Football Fans
- American Diabetes Association's Stay Healthy This Tailgating Season
- Men's Fitness' 10 Healthy Tailgating Ideas

New Year, New Changes at the HD!

Speaking of new things, have you seen our new logo?

It illustrates our new motto of "Your Environment. Your Community. Your Health." The overlapping pieces show the interaction between those three components.

We're also transitioning to a new name-- Granville Vance Public Health. To learn more about our roles & responsibilities, read this excerpt from the National Association of County & City Health Officials.

"What Does the Local Health Department Do in Your Community?

Your local health department (LHD) –you may know it as your local “health department” or “public health department”—is a leader in improving the health and well-being of your community....

* Protects you from health threats, the everyday and the exceptional.... Your LHD makes sure the tap water you drink, the restaurant food you eat and the air you breathe are all safe. It’s ready to respond to any health emergency—be it bioterrorism, SARS, West Nile Virus or an environmental hazard....

* Educates you and your neighbors about health issues. Your LHD gives you information that allows you to make healthy decisions every day, like exercising more, eating right, quitting smoking or simply washing your hands to keep from spreading illness.... through public forums in your community, public service announcements in the media, programs in schools, health education in homes and clinics, and detailed Web sites. During a public health emergency, your LHD provides important alerts and warnings to protect your health.

* Provides healthy solutions for everyone. Your LHD offers the preventive care you need to avoid chronic disease and to help maintain your health. It provides flu shots for the elderly and helps mothers obtain prenatal care that gives their babies a healthy start. Your LHD also helps provide children with regular check-ups, immunizations, and good nutrition to help them grow and learn.

* Advances community health.  Your LHD plays a vital role in developing new policies and standards that address existing and emerging challenges to your community’s health while enforcing a range of laws intended to keep you safe...."

Choosing Healthy Goals

Last week, we talked about other people's resolutions & how to set yourself up for success. Here's a list of ideas that will give you "the most bang for your buck". Using the SMART method, personalize whichever healthy behaviors interest you to meet your goals. For background info, search our blog or stay tuned!

Eating Healthier

- Eat an extra serving of fruits & veggies.

- Pack lunch or cook dinner at home more often.

- Drink more water &/or less sugary beverages.

- Use less salt &/or more spices.

- Eat slower & pay more attention to your food.

- Replace less healthy fats with healthier fats.

Be More Active

- Try a new class or activity. Or, sign up for a race.

- Invite a friend or family member to be active with you.

- Add more time or intensity to your workout.

- Sit less often. Try a walking meeting or walking at lunch.

Work towards controlling your stress level.

Aim for better quality or quantity sleep (or both!).

Quit (or, at least reduce) tobacco use.

Take medications as prescribed & get recommended screenings. (BTW, it's not to late for flu or pneumonia shots. Although this year's flu immunization isn't as effective, it still offers some protection.)

Resolving to Be Healthier

According to a 2014 University of Scranton study, the Top 10 American resolutions for 2015 are:

1. Lose weight.

2. Get organized. (Off to rocky start so far this year :(...)

3. Spend less, save more.

4. Enjoy life to the fullest.

5. Stay fit & healthy.

6. Learn something exciting.

7. Quit smoking.

8. Help others in their dreams.

9. Fall in love.

10. Spend more time with family.

Whether you want to cook more at home (#1, 3, 5, 10, etc.), get more physically active (#1, 3, 5, 6, etc.), or stress less (#1, 2, 4, 5, etc.), tricks for success on many of these topics can be found HERE in our blog. Use the "Search" box (upper left) to help narrow it down.

On that note, the resolutions listed are very vague... (e.g., What does "fit" mean? How much weight do you want to lose & how quickly?) The best resolutions are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, & Timely). This means that you need to put some thought into & personalize your resolution(s). For moderate to longer-term goals, revisit your plan periodically to check progress, tweak, set new goals, etc.

For more info, search "resolution" on our blog or check out Scientific American's Set SMART resolutions. Have a happy, healthy 2015!