Eat ... Play ... Rest ... REPEAT

I was lucky enough to spend New Year's Day 2012 on Treasure Cay beach in the Bahamas - starting with a long barefoot walk in the sand. It gave me lots of time to think about the futility of most resolutions and the simplicity of living healthfully. For me, it all comes down to three steps: Eat, play, rest ... repeat.  Thus, a new look, a new theme, and a new focus on the simple things for lifelong health ... EAT WELL:Enjoy a mindful eating style – built on a foundation ofbalanced, regular meals and snacks. Any nutrient-rich plate starts with healthyservings of colorful fruits and/or vegetables, adds the goodness of wholegrains, and includes the power of protein. Eating well deserves reallyrefreshing beverages – drink ice-cold milk with meals and refreshing water withsnacks.
PLAY OFTEN: The key to getting active and staying active at anyage is enjoyment. When you play hard and have fun, you are more likely to makephysical activity an everyday habit. Both children and adults need plenty ofactive ‘playtime,’ at least 30 to 60 minutes a day of walking, dancing, biking,swimming, skiing, snowshoeing, or your favorite ball game.REST ENOUGH:Surveys show that most of us do not get enough sleep,which can contribute to both physical and emotional stress. Getting enoughsleep (7 to 8 hours for adults, more for kids) improves overall health andbetter mental performance at work and/or school. For a positive outlook and abalanced lifestyle, make a good night’s sleep, as well as daytime down time(meditation, yoga, etc.), a top priority every day.