Shape Your Future, a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), has a solution for Oklahomans who may have already seen their healthy resolutions lapse.
Instead of fretting over unrealistic New Year’s resolutions, Shape Your Future has tools to help Oklahomans focus on a lifestyle filled with small, healthy steps that lead to adopting healthy habits.
“Unrealistic resolutions can be overwhelming and hard to achieve," said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director.
"Try creating healthy habits as a family, even if it's something small like drinking more water and less soda, eating more fruits and veggies by cooking at home or taking a family walk to get in a few more minutes of physical activity. Small changes add up to you feeling better and being more energetic.”
In Oklahoma, one in three children ages 10–17 are overweight or obese, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Oklahoma has the seventh highest high school obesity rate in the nation.
Instilling healthy habits in children when they’re young means those habits are more likely to last a lifetime. Shape Your Future has resources available for families – from weekly meal plans, grocery store planners, physical activity videos, healthy kid-friendly downloads and more.
A healthy lifestyle isn't about giving up the things you love, it's about making a few healthy changes and doing it together.
Alex Taylor, digital media strategist and mother, committed to making small changes for her family’s health over the last two years. She not only lost 75 pounds, but also regained energy and a healthy outlook on life.
“Once I realized that some things in my life had to change, I was able to use the resources from Shape Your Future to help guide my journey,” Taylor said.
Here are some ideas that can make a difference with you and your kids:
Start small with a few healthy swaps.
Eat whole grain cereals instead of sugary cereals.
Try a whole wheat bagel instead of a cinnamon roll.
Move during TV commercial breaks instead of sitting still.
Drink water instead of soda (or other sugary drinks).
Snack on unsalted mixed nuts instead of sugary candy.
Start a conversation
The best way to start creating healthy habits as a family is to be open and start talking to your kids about why being healthy is important — so they can live long healthy lives.
No matter their age, start talking to your kids and making healthy changes today! https://shapeyourfutureok.com/healthy-living-101/talking-to-your-kidsabout-health/
Need even more support? Consider joining the Shape Your Future Oklahoma Facebook Group that connects Oklahomans who are striving to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Join now! https://www.facebook.com/groups/shapefutureok/
Download this toolkit now
Download this healthy toolkit that is equipped with a weekly meal plan (grocery list included), a 5-day workout plan and a grocery store planner to make getting started easier.
For more healthy resources you and your family can adopt in 2020, visit: ShapeYourFutureOK.com.
Shape Your Future (SYF) is a community health education intervention that encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free. SYF was developed in 2011 by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). It provides simple messaging for moms and influencers in the lives of children to eat more fruits and vegetables and to be more physically active to improve overall health. SYF strives to educate parents, teachers, caregivers and all Oklahomans on how to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and lifechanging research, and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more, go to: tset.ok.gov.