Check out this new resource available!

Go Smart allows you to pin your favorite developmentally appropriate physical activities for children 0—5 on a board.

So get pinning!

TAKING STEPS TO HEALTHY SUCCESS

Follow these simple behaviors to a healthy you! Week 1: Replace a sugar sweetened beverage with water.

Week 2: Aim for 10,000 steps per day.

Week 3: Fruits and Veggies—check your plate. Fill half your plate with veggies and fruit; try eating two different varieties of veggies and fruit at each meal.

Week 4: Exercise while you clean. Stretch and bend high and low.

February 2015

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the

leading cause of death

for both men and

women.1 It is a major

health problem. Every

year, about 715,000

Americans have a heart

attack. About 600,000 people die from

heart disease in the United States each

year—that’s 1 out of every 4 deaths.

February is American Heart Month. CDC

is offering weekly tips for better heart

health. Take your first step on the road

to better heart health.

As you begin your journey to better

heart health, keep these things in mind:

Don't become overwhelmed—start small.

Don't go it alone—include friends and family.

Don't get discouraged—small steps to success.

Reward yourself.

Source: Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ,

Berry JD, Borden WB, et al. Heart disease and stroke

statistics—2013 update: a report from the American

Heart Association. Circulation.

2013;127(1):e6-e245.

Plan for Prevention

Eat a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fresh

fruits and vegetables—at least 5

servings each day.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being

overweight or obese can increase your

risk for heart disease.

Exercise regularly. Physical activity can

help you maintain a healthy weight and

lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Engage in daily moderate-intensity

exercise for at least 30 minutes.

Monitor your blood pressure. High

blood pressure often has no symptoms,

so be sure to have it checked on a

regular basis. You can check your blood

pressure at home, at a pharmacy, or at a

doctor's office.

Have your cholesterol checked. Your

health care provider should test your

cholesterol levels at least once every 5

years.

Manage your diabetes. If you have

diabetes, monitor your blood sugar

levels closely, and talk with your doctor

about treatment options.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth

February: Staying Healthy

Looking for healthy Valentine Treats?

Check out the ideas we found.

Strawberries, blueberries and Kiwi on a heart shaped plate. Source: http://littlewondersdays.blogspot.com

Let’s Stick Together: Pinterest

Peel the Love Valentine Cuties

Healthy Heart Banana Split

1 banana 2 strawberries 3 Tbs plain greek yogurt

Directions 1. Place peeled banana on plate. For younger children, slice the banana. 2. Make hearts from the strawberries. Cut the top off the strawberry at an angle and

then slice the strawberry in half. 3. Place yogurt on the banana and top with strawberry shaped hearts. Optional: sprinkle granola on the top

Source: http://school-bites.com/healthy-valentines-day-treats-school-party

Healthy Eats

“Clip and Save”

Makes it easy to clip out

and save this healthy rec-

ipe before recycling your

newsletter.

Early Childhood Wellness, a Program of Child Care Aware® of Kansas www.ks.childareaware.org 1-855-750-3343

Funding for this project was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Kansas Health Foundation, and United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. Child Care Aware® of Kansas is a subawardee to Nemours, who is currently funded by the CDC under a five-year Cooperative Agree-ment (1U58DP004102) to support states in launching ECE learning collaboratives focused on obesity prevention. Its contents are solely the respon-sibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the U.S. Government.

HIDDEN SUGARS: ARE THEY HARMING YOUR HEALTH?

It sneaks into your soda as fructose. Disguises itself as dextrose. Masquerades as maltose. Call it corn sweetener or high-fructose corn syrup - it’s still sugar by any other name.

New studies suggest too much can increase your blood pressure and harm your heart. Sugars can occur naturally in foods, such as fruit and milk. However, most of the sugar in our diets comes from added sugars. Our bodies do not need sweets to work properly, so these extra sugars provide calories without nutrients. Any calories your body does not use will show up on your waistline.

DE-SUGAR YOUR DIET

Read nutritional labels Halve the amount of sugar you add to coffee, cereal and tea Buy fresh fruits or those canned in water or natural syrup Choose water over soda Reach for the spice jar—cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, almond extract

Sources: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Healthy You Fall 2013; http://dailysuperfoodlove.com/infographics