Fit Together Highlights
Health Information You Can Trust
One of our main initiatives at Fit Together is to share reliable health resources you can trust. It is always important to know where your information is coming from. As we shared last month through our updated “About Us” page, we are a volunteer-based collaborative of health and community professionals focused solely on improving the well-being of our NWCT community.
This newsletter is written and edited by two registered dietitians, who each have over 25 years of experience in health promotion. We truly want to provide you with tools that make the healthiest choice the easiest choice. We do that by finding and sharing information and healthy local activities (through our Facebook page), guided by the basics that follow.
Basics of Reliable Health Information
Determining if health information is accurate and reliable requires answering some simple questions:
- Who? – Who is behind the content? Is the individual or organization credible? Do they have education and credentials in their field? Do they have a long-standing history and solid reputation?
- What? – Is the information based on research that has been tested and proven and not just a new fad? Is the material updated regularly? Is the information selling something or focused on creating fear or sensationalism?
- Where? – Does the information pertain to your community?
- Why? – Why was the content created or shared? What is the motivation? Who benefits from you believing the information?
NOTE: Much of what we see right now online through TikTok videos or via AI-generated overviews is designed to get more attention and profits. It is not motivated to support your long-term health. It is vital to do your own research and fully understand the source of the information you are following. We at Fit Together hope to help!
Find more tips:
- How to Find Reliable Health Information Online – from the National Institutes of Health
- Evaluating Health Information – from the National Library of Medicine
Kids’ Corner – Healthy Screen Habits
December brings us the joys of the holiday season. However, with kids out of school, that often means more time in front of screens. More screen time, via TV, computer, phone, or tablet, is associated with an increase in overweight and obesity, lower reading scores, and attention problems in kids.
Avoiding screens in our technologically driven world is impossible. Instead, we can strive for more balanced screen habits. Find some of our favorite tips and tools below.
Healthy Screen Time Tips
- Establish a scheduled screen time so that kids are on a routine.
- Balance screen time with fun offline activities like reading, coloring, playing a game, or getting outside for a walk around the neighborhood.
- Turn off autoplay so that natural breaks are created. This helps you limit viewing to one show or video.
- Try not to use screen time as a reward.
Healthy Screen Habit Resources
- Fit Together’s updated 2 Healthy Screen Habits page – where you’ll find tips and selected resources from The American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media
- Healthy Screen Time Habits (PDF) – a handout of tips based on a child’s age.
Worksite Wellness Tip – Holiday Stress Relief
December can bring a mix of emotions in the workplace. While holidays can be joyful, they can also be filled with grief and stress. And all the busyness of completing annual work projects while balancing personal and family obligations can be overwhelming. Following are some tips and tools to make the holiday season (and beyond) a bit easier.
Tips for Workplace Stress Relief
- Keep lists. Staying organized during the holidays is crucial. Write down your holiday and work “to-dos” using the tool of your preference (such as a planner, notebook, or your phone). By writing things down, you free up your mind for other tasks.
- Prioritize basic self-care. Get plenty of sleep, drink enough water, eat a healthy diet, exercise daily, and maintain positive connections with friends.
- Make time for joy. Include daily activities that make you feel good, like listening to a favorite playlist or funny podcast, playing with your pet, watching a feel-good show, or spending time outdoors.
- Be in the moment. Our minds often create stress by ruminating on the past or fearing the future. When you focus on the current moment, you can break that draining cycle.
- Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or therapist if you’re experiencing heavy or difficult emotions. Even a check-in via text can help you to feel more connected.
- Leave it at the office. Try to create boundaries between work and home. Establish a routine for shifting from work mode to home life, like writing a “to-do” list for the following day. Again, write it down and then let it go. Tomorrow is another day.
Free Stress-Relieving Tools & Resources
Here are some additional resources to support you and your colleagues:
- Insight Timer – this website offers a helpful blog, and the free app provides short meditations, breathing exercises, and more.
- The Tapping Solution App – learn EFT / Tapping which is a simple, free, research-backed practice for reducing stress.
- How to Create a Healthier Holiday – helpful tips from our friends at McCall Behavioral Health Network.
Healthy Recipes – Shareable Treats
The holiday season is upon us! That means lots of social gatherings. You’re going to want to share something great with your family, friends, and colleagues. Healthy, homemade treats are not only party-pleasers, they also make fun, affordable gifts.
Our newly updated Recipes and Cooking page features a variety of easy snacks that would be perfect to bring to a party. And, with a few simple additions, they make fun gift ideas.
Healthy Holiday Treat Gifts
- Banana Bread Muffin-in-a-Mug – Buy a fun mug that you know your gift recipient will love, and then bake our banana bread muffin in it. They get a tasty treat AND a mug to keep. Win/win!
- No Bake Energy Bites – this simple recipe uses peanut butter (or whatever nut butter you like) and then can be customized with a drizzle of chocolate or holiday baking chips. The bites are like Reese’s peanut butter cups with less sugar and additives. Put the bites in a reusable holiday tin, and you’ve got a simple gift.
- Roasted Chickpeas – everyone will be amazed that you managed to make chickpeas taste so good! This addictive snack can be flavored with whatever seasonings you like — ranch, cayenne pepper, curry, garlic, onion, or chili powder. You can package the chickpeas in a colorful snack bowl and include a jar of seasonings so your recipient can make this treat at home.
Bonus: Download and print out any of our recipes to share alongside the treats.
Want to subscribe to this newsletter?
To get this newsletter delivered to your in-box, just enter your email in the box below where it says “Join Our Newsletter.”