I had the best experience last week.  I had the opportunity to join Maranda with my daughter, Quinn, to show families how they can stay fit even with a little one in the house.  My friend and colleague Kendra Bylsma joined us with her five-month-old daughter Ava to give us tips on activities/workouts that we can do together.

It really was a revelation. Wow!  I can get a workout in, while spending time with my daughter.  That has been one of my biggest hang-ups.  I spend a lot of time at work, away from Quinn.  So when it comes to working out, I just have a hard time justifying spending more time away from her.  Kendra really helped me realize that you can integrate workouts into play activities with your baby.

She recommended a few core muscle strength exercises like pushups and yoga moves.  A few other ideas to get a workout with your baby include:

• Dance parties.  Babies enjoy music.  Why not make it a dance party for both you and the baby.  You can really get your heart rate going and your baby will enjoy the entertainment.
• Baby carriers.  My husband and I use a baby carrier all of the time.  By strapping your little one to you, you add extra weight to carry around.  We do normal chores, extra laps up the stairs all while getting in a good workout.
• Baby airplane.  My daughter is almost 20 pounds.  She makes a great weight to strengthen my arms and legs with lunges and arm lifts.  She loves these “games.”

These are just a few ideas to help you rethink your activities with your little one.  It’s a great way to improve your health and spend time with those you love best – your babies!

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As my husband and I cruised through the grocery store this weekend, I realized just how difficult it is to make decisions about healthy meal options.  There are so many choices.  No transfat. No fat. Low in calories.  Only 100 calories. Low in sodium. And the list goes on and on.

 So what do you do?  How do you make healthy choices?  I spoke to one of our wellness experts, Kara Boley, here at Priority Health and she recommended that instead of reading the front of a box that I turn it over and read the nutrition food labels.  She said that you should look for five things:

1.  Serving size. Look to see if there are multiple servings in the container. If you are eating more than one serving, be sure to multiply all others nutrients accordingly.
2.  Calories. The total calories tell us the energy producing potential of a food. This energy comes from fats, carbohydrates, proteins and alcohol.
3.  Total Fat. Total fat intake should be 20-35% of your total daily calories.
4.  Sodium. You should try to limit your total sodium intake to no more than 2,300 mg per day (equivalent to 1 tsp of salt). 
5.  Fiber. Not only does fiber help you feel full longer, it also helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and may even lower your risk for heart disease. Aim to get 25-40 grams of fiber per day.

 Now this is a lot to take in.  And often when I am shopping, especially with my husband and six-month-old daughter, I don’t have a lot of time to read labels. 

Well there is still hope, and help, to make healthy food choices. Kara is collaborating with Shari Steinbach from Meijer to host a fantastic event on the Secrets to Smart Shopping at the Cascade Meijer in Grand Rapids on February 25, 2010.  You are welcome to join us at the event, but registration is required. 

Visit priorityhealth.com to register or learn more.

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As the holiday season creeps up and dreams of sugarplums dance in my head, I’m seriously concerned about the health of my waistline.  Who can resist all of the sweet and delectable treats that are available during the holiday season?  Do I really have to give up my mom’s special wedding cake cookies?  Or my aunt’s famous white chocolate raspberry cheesecake?

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Paying $2 for wearing jeans is a common practice at Priority Health.  And I don’t mind.  It’s always for a great cause. What impresses me most though, is that our jeans days are organized by a group of employees who put together fundraising events all year long. They go out of their way to put together bake sales, company photo contests, coat collections, online auctions and much more to give back to the community.  And why?  Because they are passionate about giving back to the communities, where they live and work.

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Last Monday, I had the opportunity to visit the Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities center.  I was not so inspired.  It brought back all of these memories for me as a kid. 

As we walked in the center, I saw all of these little kids getting ready for dance class.  It was so adorable.  Each one ran into class with their dance shoes in tow.  It reminded me of all of the dance classes I use to take as little kid.  My parents signed me up for dance when I was five and I danced for more than 10 years.  I event taught a few classes myself for a few years.  What a wonderful opportunity.  I learned coordination, rhythm, stage presence and so much more.

I think it is so important for families to try new things.  Not only to build upon all three basic principles of fitness: strength, endurance and flexibility, but also to build so many other skills.  I made friends, learned how to be on stage in front of a big crowd and learned some basic dance steps.  All of these skills are things I still use today.

I also think it is important to keep kids inspired.  Who likes to do the same things every day?  By inspiring them with different activities, they will be more likely to stay active.  They’ll also learn a variety of skills, and who knows, maybe they will find a sport or activity that they are passionate about.

How do you introduce new activities?  Here are just a few ideas:

• Try activity-based video games.  Many kids are glued to their video games.  Why not embrace it and add activity while you are at it?  Not only does it engage your kids, they are learning about coordination and rhythm and burning calories too!
• Play TV inspired games.  Play your own version of Dancing with the Stars or Amazing Race.  You can turn on the radio and make up dance routines on the spot.  You can also set up an obstacle course in your yard, or during the winter months, throughout your house.
• Have your kids try a different sport.  There are many great resources such as Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities center that offer activities for kids to try like dance, swimming, basketball and much more.  Check with your local community center, school or YMCA.

Remember, be creative and don’t be afraid to try new things.  And more important, try these activities as a family.  The opportunities you provide your kids today will teach them skills and healthy habits they will use, long into the future.

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Helping my grandparents navigate Medicare.

I never thought when I was younger that I would be sitting down with my grandparents talking about health care, but here I am.  They’ve been on Medicare for years.  They had no idea what their options were.  And that they had the opportunity to save a lot of money each month.

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You know those people that every time you’re around them you’re inspired to try something new, live a little better, parent smarter or enjoy life more?  I am blessed to have several of these kind of people in my life and now you can meet and get to know them too!   They are joining us here with weekly blog posts that I hope you and your family find informative, insightful and inspirational.

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It seems like everyone is talking about the flu vaccine and H1N1.  I have never really paid attention to the hubbub until this year.  As a mother of a three month old, I am considered to be in the “risk group.” I had no idea.  So now, I have all of these new questions!

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