Don't give up on healthy eating during the holidays. Making a festive and elegant table for your holiday feast is a given, but consider using a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits to brighten up your spread as well.  By adding sautéed red peppers, onions, and mushrooms to bowls of green vegetables, you can introduce a splash of color and additional nutrients to your guests.

Involve your young guests in helping to choose vegetables in a variety of colors at the store.  By involving the children in these important decisions, they will feel a sense of pride and be more willing to try these new vegetables.

“Half of a meal should comprise fruits and vegetables that consist of a variety of colors,” said Vilma Andari, president and founder of NutraHealthFood and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. “The other two quarters should be whole grains and healthy proteins.”

Heart-healthy colorful veggies include sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and acorn squash.  Apples and nuts are also healthful and provide texture and variety to any holiday spread.

Enjoy creating a vibrant holiday feast for your loved ones this holiday season with a challenge to add as many colors as possible!

Be sure to visit the American Heart Association for ideas of how to add color and healthy eating recipes to your holiday table.

Slips and falls aren't typically thought of as a serious risk to our health, but they can be deadly. Falls are the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths for all ages and the number one cause of death for those 65 and older, according to injuryfacts.nsc.org. The National Safety Council has provided some preventative that we can take to avoid falls and distracted walking.

How to Prevent Falls

Take these simple steps to prevent falls both at home and while out and about:

• Remove clutter, including electrical cords and other tripping hazards from walkways, stairs and doorways.
• Install nightlights in the bathroom, hallways and other areas to prevent tripping and falls at night.
• Always wear proper footwear and clean up spills immediately.
• Place non-slip adhesive strips on stairs and non-skid mats in the shower and bathroom.
• For older adults, install grab bars near showers and toilets and install rails on both sides of stairs. Older adults can also take balance classes, get their vision and hearing checked each year and talk with their doctors and pharmacist about fall risks from medication.

Distracted Walking - A Serious Risk

Today, nearly everyone has a cell phone and consequently distracted walking has become a serious risk. One study, published in the Journal of Safety Research, found that over a 10-year period, distracted walking was responsible for more than 10,000 serious injuries.

To limit this risk:

• Avoid cell phone use while walking, especially near crosswalks - talk with your friends and loved ones about this risk as well.
• Pay special attention in busy areas, such as airports and shopping centers, and even your own house - more than half of distracted walking incidents happen at home.
• Avoid other distracted walking risks, such as listening to headphones, when walking near intersections and other busy areas.
• When driving, look carefully for pedestrians distracted by their phones - slow down and pay special attention in school zones.

Source: National Safety Council

Taking care of daily issues, household needs and pressing work deadlines seem to always take priority over taking care of ourselves.  Making a conscious effort to focus on our own wellness is critical to our overall wellbeing and health. As part of National Safety Month, the National Security Council has provided some tips on how to improve wellness at every stage of life.

Focus on Your Wellness Each Day

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or go for a walk at lunch to add physical activity into your daily schedule
• Take advantage of workplace wellness programs and choose healthy snacks each day
• Find nearby options for exercise classes through your local parks department
• Take breaks throughout your day to refresh your body and mind - if you sit for long periods, stand up and stretch for a few minutes at a time
• Get regular medical checkups, such as an annual physical and age-appropriate tests - ask a professional about the right tests, exercise and nutrition choice for your physical fitness and age
• Talk to your doctor about alternatives to opioid pain medications - learn more at nsc.org/takeaction

Watch Out for Fatigue

Fatigue is more than just being tired.  If you’re missing out on the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each day, you could become sleep deprived and be at higher risk for the negative effects of fatigue.

• Chronic sleep deprivation causes depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses
• Fatigued driving is impaired driving – losing even two hours of sleep is similar to the effect of having three beers
• Night shifts and rotating shifts put you at a higher risk of fatigue – if possible, work with your employer to align your sleep and work schedules to get restful sleep
• To help combat fatigue, make your bedroom more conducive to sleep; a quiet, dark room that is not too hot and not too cold will help you relax and get to sleep sooner
• Avoid chemicals that affect sleep; caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can all contribute to sleep problems
• Help your loved ones get the proper amount of sleep – children and teens typically require even more sleep than adults

Additional Resources

Risks of Fatigue at the Workplace

Sample Employee Wellness Program

Source: National Safety Council

It is important to prepare for the unexpected because an emergency can happen at any time. With the National Safety Council and in honor of National Safety Month in June, we have compiled some of the best tips and resources for preparation.

Plan for Possible Emergencies

• Research, prepare for national disasters common to your area, such as floods, earthquakes or tornadoes. Stay informed during watches and warnings.
• Create an emergency kit for both your home and car
• Create a home emergency plan with your family and learn how to shut off your utilities
• Be a good participant in emergency drills at work and school by following instructions
• Store important phone numbers with other documents in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box
• Learn first aid and CPR for children and adults and download the NSC First Aid app available on iTunes or Google App Store

Stock Your Emergency Kits Now

Your home emergency kit should contain:

• Food and water for each family member for three days, as well as a can opener and nonperishable foods
• Hand-crank or battery-powered flashlight and radio with extra batteries
• Full first aid kit, including hand sanitizer and garbage bags
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape for broken windows or leaks
• Whistle to signal for help

Your car emergency kit should contain:

• A properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench, tripod jack and jumper cables
• A tool kit, compass, duct tape and car charger for your cell phone
• A flashlight with extra batteries, rain poncho and fire extinguisher
• Reflective triangles and vest, and brightly colored cloth to make your vehicle more visible
• A first aid kit and enough nonperishable food and water for three days
• Cold weather items such as a snow brush, shovel, windshield washer fluid, warm clothing, cat litter for traction and blankets

Be sure to take advantage of special free and discounted offers during National Safety Month, sponsored by National Safety Council.

• Free First Aid Online Course June 1-10. Register here.
• Discount on Emergency Preparedness Course June 1-9.  Learn more here.
• Family Safety & Health magazine discount.

For more information on how you can be prepared in an emergency, be sure to review our previous blog on You are the Help Until Help Arrives.

Sources: National Safety Council, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response