“It’s a New Year and it’s all about doing more good things! At HealthBarn USA the #1 priority is teaching children and families how-to live a healthy-lifestyle through fun, hands-on experiences. No matter where you are in your journey to be healthy, now is the time to embrace fresh concepts and put them into practice.”

Be positive about eating & living healthy!
I put together our top healthy-lifestyle action items to keep it simple and to help your family have fun and be healthy in 2013 and beyond:
- Be Positive: Keep a positive attitude about new ideas and smile everyday!
- Eat Fresh Food: Buying fresh food (including frozen veggies) will naturally keep you away from highly processed “boxed” food and cut down on your grocery time by minimizing your food label reading time!
- Cook at Home: Moms “in the know” are cooking with their kids and sharing simple and fun recipes with family and friends. Check out my new book, Appetite for Life, that includes 100 of our 100 thumbs up recipes!
- Grow Food: The best way to appreciate food is by getting your hands dirty. Don’t be overwhelmed with a vegetable garden, start simply by planting a windowsill herb garden and snipping away while cooking.
- Play: What’s your favorite way to play? Dance, yoga, taking a walk to clear your head, hoola hoop… go for it everyday!
- Be Down to Earth: Look for ways to conserve energy (simply switch your light bulbs!) at home to help protect our precious planet — she needs help!
Growing food and cooking fresh is cool!
- Eat Meals as a Family: Focus on sitting at the table and participating in spirited conversations with your family while turning off the TV, phone and blackberry… it’s amazing how much you will learn about each other.
- Be of Service: Lend a helping hand to a neighbor, a friend or to an organization or cause that you are passionate about is a great way to get involved in helping others. Remember you get what you give!

Thumbs up for putting these healthy actions items into practice!
These healthy-lifestyle action items are like seedlings that will bring BIG rewards, so get started and see how you and your family will sprout in 2013!
– Stacey Antine, MS RD, author, Appetite for Life and founder, HealthBarn USA
Which action item is the most meaningful to you? Which one do you find the most challenging?