Page 26 - FebMarHER

26 FEB HER
Alison Crane
County Extension agent
There’s good evidence (for both nu- trition and physical activity) that the choices we are presented with, and how they are presented, strongly affect the decision we end up making. For example, if you’re at a meeting or event with a plate of cookies in front of you, you may end up reaching for a cookie — even though you weren’t hungry or were thinking about eating fruit instead. And if you’re sitting for several hours — or all day — in a meeting, it can be difficult to fit enough physical activity into your day.
Some hacks — or easy ways to make changes to your meetings to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.
• Offer infused water in place or soda or other sugary drinks. You can experi- ment with fruits, vegetables, and mint to add some variety. Unsweetened tea and coffee are also good options.
• Simply using smaller plates, bowls, and serving utensils can encourage smaller portions and prevent overeating.
• Place fruits and vegetables first in the buffet line. Research shows we are more likely to eat what we see first.
• Instead of serving traditional des- serts, which are usually high calorie with lots of added fat and sugar, try just serving fruit as your dessert.
• Serve dressings and condiments on the side. Too much dressing can add excess calories to otherwise nutritious salads.
• Serve veggies with hummus in- stead of ranch dip for another easy swap. Hummus is lower in calories and satu- rated fat and higher in fiber than ranch dip.
• Organize a walking group during meeting breaks. If you’re planning on meeting for more than an hour or so, try scheduling a walking break.
• Provide “workout time” on the agenda. If you’re involved in planning an all-day meeting or a conference, provide time in the agenda for attendees to do morning or evening workouts, or plan extra time around lunch for physical activity.
We can also apply these tips to our family get-togethers or events.
If you would like to download the leader lesson, Healthy Meeting Tips and Tricks: Eat Smart, Move More EHC — Lesson Guide by Laura Balis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor — Health or more information on ways to eat healthy visit our website www.uaex.edu.
26 FEB/MAR 2020 ¯ HER MAGAZINE