E
veryone makes choices every day, and some of those choices include deciding what to eat, how much to eat, and whether to include physical activity in our day. Since research indicates a definite link between our lifestyle choices and the quality of our health, it is a good idea to know about some tools we can use to make wise choices that can help improve health and potentially save money with reduced healthcare costs.
Part of my 2018 year has been spent working with fellow K-State staff such as reviewers, and editors, to update a lesson I originally wrote in 2008 titled “Choose Wisely: Your Health Depends On It.” The concepts are still important, and I had found myself sharing the same basic message with audiences but making it more relevant with some updated information that wasn’t included in the earlier fact sheet. So, it was agreed that it was time for an update, and the new lesson became available as a 2019 K-State Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) lesson in August. We came at the topic from a little different direction and changed the name to reflect the fact that wiser choices can not only reduce our risk of chronic diseases, but can also affect our pocketbook through reduced medical expenses.
The lesson encourages participants to use tools such as MyPlate, Nutrition Facts Labels, and Physical Activity to help them lead a healthier lifestyle. In addition, several comparison charts help drive home the fact that our choices DO make a difference. The healthy choices we make every day can indeed provide a pay off with fewer doctor visits and improved quality of life.
I recently shared this fact sheet, leader’s guide, and the accompanying PowerPoint presentation with other Kansas FCS agents for their use around the state at our August FCS Update in Manhattan. Additionally, this lesson was one of three selected by Kansas Family and Community Education (FCE) leaders as one of their 2019 FCS lessons to be shared among their members across the state. I was privileged to share the lesson materials with them at their state planning meeting in Salina on August 20, 2018. We will be sharing these materials across Wildcat District as well.
Let me know if your group or organization would like to participate in a presentation of Choose Wisely: For Health and Wealth. I would be happy to share.