How often should I exercise?

Exercising four to six days per week is recommended. When first beginning to exercise, focus on creating and maintaining the habit of exercising, even if you can only exercise for a short period of time. Remember to vary your activities to prevent overuse injuries.

Fitness tips to help you stay motivated:

• Set goals
• Start slowly
• Choose activities that fit your lifestyle
• Add variety
• have some fun
• Track your progress
• Reward yourself

From: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Frozen Fruit Cups

Trying to increase fruit in your diet or your family diet? Try this:
Serving Size: 1 Muffin Tin Cup Makes: 18 Servings

Ingredients:

• 3 Bananas


• 24 ounces fat-free strawberry yogurt


• 10 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed, with the juice


• 8 ounces canned crushed pineapple, with the juice

Instruction:

• Line 18 muffin-in cups with paper baking cups


• Dice or mash bananas and place in a large mixing bowl


• Stir in remaining items


• Spoon into muffin-tin cups and freeze at least 3 hour or until firm. Remove frozen cups ans tore in a plastic bag in freezer.


• Before serving, remove paper cups and let stand 10 minutes.

Benefits of Walking

Starting a regular walking program offers numerous health and fitness benefits!

• Good for your heart: Walking regularly can help reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which contribute to heart disease.
• Strengthens bones and joints: Walking is easier on your joints than higher-impact activities like running or aerobics.
• Weight Control: Walking may seem like a leisurely activity, but with the right intensity, it can elevate your heart rate and burn serious calories so you can reach and maintain a healthy weight.
• Benefits for the mind: A long list of mental health benefits have been attributed to exercise, including reduced depression, better sleep and more.

Good-For-You Cornbread

Ingredients:
1 c. Cornmeal
1 c. Flour
1/4 c. White sugar
1 tsp Baking powder
1 c. 1% Fat Buttermilk
1 Whole Egg
1/4 c. Tub Margarine

Nutritional Information
Fat: 6.8g
Carbohydrates: 26.2g
Calories: 178.9
Protein: 3.8g

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix together cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder.
3. In another bowl, combine buttermilk and egg. Beat lightly.
4. Slowly add buttermilk and egg mixture to dry ingredients.
5. Add margarine and mix by hand or mixer for 1 minute.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes in an 8x8 inch, greased baking dish. Cool, cut into 10 squares.

Makes 10 servings.