Maintain your health - take the CHIP Alumni Challenge!

Here are some opportunities to add healthy activities to our daily and weekly routines.  The lifestyle suggestions below are representative of common beliefs among healthcare organizations and providers of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle that will reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. CHIP Alumni wish to invite the community to join us this next week in making the Rockford area a healthier community. Use the many local resources available to help you make your personal lifestyle healthier.

To: The Fast Food and Non-CHIP Restaurants in Our Community –

Ø      Help us identify good tasting healthy choices on your menu that are low in fat, salt and sugar.

A Bonus-- it would be high in fiber.  We are customers who want to get healthy by patronizing your restaurant!

Ø      Add some healthy steamed vegetables, bean, or fruit side dishes to your menu.

Feature tastes of these healthy choices at the CHIP-O-Rama every April at Rockford College. 

To: The Citizens of the Greater Rockford Area Community

Choose any of the following:

Ø      Pick a form of exercise you like or are willing to try and do it for 30 minutes each day. Do the same activity or a variety of activities. Make it fun. Lots of ideas at the CHIP-O-RAMA.

Ø       If you are a walker – use a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day!

Ø      Get out your bike or borrow one use one of the many bike paths available. Get Bike path maps at the CHIP-O-RAMA

Ø      Order a CHIP menu item at a CHIP approved restaurant.

Ø      Adapt a favorite recipe of yours by reducing any or all of the following: salt, fat, and sugar

Ø      Fix a meal that features these four food groups: vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes (beans). Use lots of COLOR!

Ø      Check food ingredient labels. Make sure there are no hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils/fats in the product.

Ø      Eat more fiber. (5-10 grams or more per meal)

Ø      Drink plenty of water (at least eight 8 oz. glasses).

Ø      Check your cholesterol and glucose levels to assist in determining some of your health risks. Do this free at the CHIP-O-RAMA April 5 at Rockford College. Watch for announcements for this event. Avoid high fructose corn syrup in processed foods. 

Ø     Attend the CHIP-O-RAMA at Rockford College April 5. Explore the community resources there to help you do any or all of the above. Registered attendees will receive a recipe booklet free. Additional copies are available for $3 or free with purchase of a soup mix.

Ø      Learn more about the CHIP program. Next class starts in Sept. 2009. Call 815-394-5017 for information.

TO: CHIP Graduates –

Ø      Renew or Join the CHIP Alumni Association to get support, recipes, classes and information to improve or maintain your health benefits. Program year is June 1 - May 31.

Ø     CHIP Alumni members can take the CHIP class again in the spring or fall at a greatly reduced rate.

Ø      Add an extra healthy activity to your exercise routine.

TO: the Business Community

Ø      IF you own or work for a company that provides products and services that support healthy lifestyle choices consider making the CHIP Alumni aware of your company and its services.

Ø      Encourage your employees to increase their understanding and adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.

TO: Schools and Educators

Ø      Creative teachers can work nutrition and exercise information/activity into many curricular subjects. Look for opportunities to learn about the food, dances, and challenges that are part of different cultures.

Ø      Learn by tasting, doing, singing, etc.

Ø      Encourage healthy foods in school lunch programs.

TO: Parents

Ø      Pack some whole foods as opposed to processed foods for your child’s lunch.

Ø      Add more “foods as grown” to your menus this week.

Ø      When using fast foods avoid high fat, salty and sugar based foods.

Ø      Set aside time for a walk or other physical activities with your children several times a week.

Ø      Involve your children in choosing and fixing easy but healthful snacks.

Ø      Help older children compare fat and sodium per serving size in different snacks.

CHIP Alumni of the Rock River Valley  - 5050 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61108 / Phone 815-394-5016