Tips to get your New Year's resolutions back on track Published Feb. 7, 2017 By Mary Nelson, Ph.D. 60th Aeromedical and Diagnostic Squadron Health Promotions flight commander If you are like many people, January 1 marks the day that you and your family planned to begin eating better and to become more physically active. By now though, you may have found that Valentine's Day and the winter doldrums are just a few of the many bumps on the road to a healthier new year. If you are looking to restart your New Year's resolutions, here are a few tips: Knowing what to shop for can make it easier to bring balanced nutrition home to your family. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ national We Can! program provides a “Go, Slow, Whoa” food chart to help make healthier choices. By adding more "Go" foods to your grocery list – whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, non–fat dairy products and other foods that are low in calories and high in nutrients – you can create family meals that are delicious and healthy. The chart also can help you identify "Slow" foods – those higher in fat and calories that should be eaten less often – and "Whoa" foods – those highest in fat and calories that should be eaten once in a while and in smaller portions. Understanding the difference between portion sizes and serving size is another way to help your family maintain a healthy weight. A portion is the amount of a food or drink you consume while a serving is a measured amount. The We Can! program also provides healthy eating plans and tips to help you and your family better understand nutrition labels on food packaging so you can avoid having multiple servings in a single portion. If the winter weather has curtailed your plans to be more physically active, try moving indoors. Take the stairs at work or walk briskly around the mall. Even raking leaves can bring the family together for some physical activity. You can find other tips like these and download free tip sheets and other tools at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health. A mouse click or two could help you and your family find ways to get those good intentions back on track and keep you moving forward to a healthier lifestyle through 2017 and beyond. For more information on health promotions at Travis visit the 60th Aerospace Medical Squadron’s SharePoint page.