{"id":7907,"date":"2016-02-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/good-for-your-heart\/"},"modified":"2016-02-18T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-02-18T00:00:00","slug":"good-for-your-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/togethercounts.com\/es\/good-for-your-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Good for Your Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"

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February is heart month and there are many important steps we need to take to keep ourselves healthy and avoid disease. And as a proud partner of the Together Counts\u2122 program, we know there are important steps that can promote heart health from another angle. What are the things that contribute to a state of total well-being? I know what it takes for me to be the best version of myself, and they are things that bring to mind the core values of Common Threads, the nonprofit organization I co-founded. We teach students in underserved communities to manage their health through cooking and nutrition education. But we teach so much more. The values that we stand for as an organization can be applied to your daily life to help you be the best you possible.<\/p>\n

1. Cook for Your Life!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food nourishes the body and soul and brings us together with the people that we love. There is little else that brings me as much pleasure as feeding my family and friends home-cooked food. Eating healthfully allows me to move ahead with life \u2013 full steam ahead; sharing that with my family and seeing them thrive as a result is so fulfilling. Cooking is my love language!<\/p>\n

Cooking healthfully does not have to be over-complicated. At Common Threads we teach students, families, and teachers the 4 Ps: 1. Portion Size, 2. Preparation Style, 3. Paint Your Plate with Color, and 4. Participation.<\/p>\n

2. Make Healthy Choices.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even small choices add up. I am mindful of that in my day-to-day life, whether on the road for work or at home. The daily things that keep me going are simple: drink more water, keep alcohol to a minimum, plan ahead and be prepared, and staying physically active. And when it comes to a healthy diet, I believe that it is not about cutting out entire groups of food but rather making the healthy choice.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t Underestimate the Importance of Mental Health.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finding your inner calm is important but I\u2019m talking about more than that. Common Threads\u2019 curriculum weaves in lessons and principles that align not only with Common Core Standards, but also Social and Emotional Learning, STEAM, and social thinking. These life skills will stay with students and assist them in conflict resolution, ability to focus, attentional performance, and resilience. I have always been interested in the power of the mind and the positive effects of mindfulness. Life is stressful and having some tools to manage it is necessary.<\/p>\n

According to a recent CBS News article<\/a>, our health could benefit from focusing on gratitude. The article cites health perks that come from actively recognizing things we are grateful for, including contributing overall wellbeing, improvement in heart health, greater life satisfaction, more self-control, and a link in teens has even attributed gratitude to less likeliness of abusing drugs and alcohol.<\/p>\n

4. Give Back.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My mother\u2019s life work was to give back. When I think of all my closest friends, they too have been and are people who give so much of their hearts. The act of volunteering is selfless, but can enrich your life in so many ways. But where to start? The social injustices and inequity gaps seem overwhelming, but your own efforts don\u2019t need to be.<\/p>\n

According to a study conducted by UnitedHealth Group<\/a> in 2013, 76% of those surveyed who had volunteered in the last 12 months reported that it made them feel healthier, 78% reported lower stress levels, and 96% reported an enriched sense of purpose. Get involved with an issue you\u2019re passionate about and beneficiaries won\u2019t be the only ones reaping rewards. On a larger scale, seek out corporations and employers who invest in society. By becoming customers of those companies you are supporting them with your dollars.<\/p>\n

My own organization relies heavily on the support of our passionate volunteers. In 2014 we logged 22,020 volunteer hours!<\/p>\n

Have fun. Work hard. Play hard. Seek out what makes you happy and prioritize what keeps you healthy. See if you can create a little more purpose, joy, ease, and happiness for yourself. And, perhaps most importantly, eat home-cooked food with your favorite people \u2013 your body, mind, soul, and heart will thank you for it.<\/p>\n

This blog post was written by Linda Novick O\u2019Keefe, the Founding Chief Executive Officer of Common Threads. Common Threads, with programs in more than 500 schools and community partner site nationwide, was created to address the childhood obesity epidemic by educating children on the importance of nutrition and physical wellbeing, and empowering them to be agents of change for healthier families, schools, and communities. By providing children with a toolkit of knowledge and skills, Common Threads\u2019 curriculum helps prevent childhood obesity and reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers, getting America\u2019s kids cooking for life.<\/em><\/p>\n

For more healthy meal ideas check out these other articles from Together Counts!<\/p>\n