First Family Encourages Healthy Changes in Nutrition, Exercise and Tobacco Use

COLUMBIA, SC  – May 8, 2008 – The Healthy SC Challenge is the Sanford family’s effort to get all South Carolinians to do just a little more to live a healthier lifestyle. The tips are designed to encourage individuals and communities to live healthier lifestyles in three categories – nutrition, exercise and help to quit smoking. The tips can also be found on the challenge’s website, www.healthysc.gov.
 
Healthy Tips

Nutrition
Springtime means an array of fresh produce in your grocery store- and at farmers’ markets.  Local varieties of vegetables and fruits, artisan cheeses and fresh or potted herbs are just some of the products you will find at the markets.  A few pointers to make your farmers’ market experience more
enjoyable: Always bring a clean bag or two with you.  Use a separate bag for raw and cooked foods.  Pay attention to food safety practices of the vendor.
Go early for the best selection.  Be flexible with your purchases- the market changes with the season. Take time to talk to the vendors. With all the fresh choices available at your farmers’ market, you can’t go wrong. Visit https://agriculture.sc.gov/ to learn more about farmers’ markets in SC!
– www.eatright.org

Physical Activity
Temperature and humidity are two important factors to consider when physical activity is outdoors. Parents, teachers, and coaches need to closely supervise children playing in extreme heat. Anytime the temperature is higher than 90 F, caution needs to be taken. Morning or late evening times are recommended for physical activity. When determining if it is safe for children to play outside, take into consideration that humidity affects the body’s ability to cool itself. When the temperature is below 90 F, add the temperature and humidity together. If the sum is between 130 and 150, you and your children should be cautious and limit the amount of outdoor activity. If the sum is greater than 150, vigorous outdoor activity should be avoided.
– www.cooperaerobics.com

Tobacco
Some top reasons for relapses are bad mood, a happy mood, alcohol, being offered a smoke and coffee or tea.  You’ll know you’re in the slip zone if you start making the I’ll just have one excuse.  Here’s what you can do to beat it:  Tell yourself you’ll light up five or ten minutes from now.  If you can delay smoking, that urge will pass.  Don’t buy a pack in the same place you are having a craving.  That guilty little walk to the convenience store may give you a few minutes to think about what you’re going to do.  If you do buy a pack, only take out one cigarette and destroy the rest before you light up.
-National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation, www.BecomeAnEx.org

The Healthy SC Challenge is an outcome-based, cooperative effort aimed at encouraging individuals, communities and organizations across the state to show shared responsibility in developing innovative ways to improve the health of South Carolina’s citizens.

For more information about the Healthy SC Challenge, please visit www.healthysc.gov, or call 803-74772.