Are you up for the challenge?

Times Reporter

 

A new healthy initiative is coming to Strathmore, one designed to bring the family closer together while being healthy. The Sobeys 21 Days to Healthy Eating Challenge begins on Sept. 6 and will go until Sept. 26. The main focus of the challenge is to have families eat at least one healthy meal together for 21 consecutive days, which, according to experts, is the amount of time it takes to change behaviour. 

“I’m going to have a bunch of these calendars, they’re called Healthy Eating challenge, the Family Log Book,” said Robert Breitwieser, with Strathmore’s Healthy Eating, Active Living, HEAL, coalition.

“It’s a big calendar, and log book with all kinds of information in it for healthy eating suggestions, and how families can kind of spend some time together at the table.”

He has dropped off 50 copies of the calendars and logbooks at Sobeys, and will be taking another 50 with him to REVS. If 100 Strathmore families signed up and took part in the challenge, Breitwieser would feel they have reached their goal. The challenge is province-wide and is in conjunction with Sobeys, the Alberta government, Healthy You, ChooseWell, and in Strathmore with HEAL. 

“It has all kinds of interesting stuff in it. It has different things like healthy food choices, vegetables, fruits, grain products, milk alternatives, meat alternatives,” said Breitwieser.

“It’s got all kinds of tips to bring your family back together at the table, it’s got different things like barriers to eating breakfast, barriers to eating together. It’s got a calendar where you actually check off the number of meals you’ve eaten together with you family, and the family can be two people or more.”

Experts suggest that eating healthy meals together can increase overall wellbeing, while improving communication between families and numerous other benefits.  

By registering for the challenge families can also be entered into a draw to win one of 12 prizes totaling $5,500. Strathmore can also be entered in for a chance to win a $2,500 grant for the community. 

Head to Sobeys between now and Sept. 6 to pick up your calendar and log book. More information can be found on the website at www.arpaonline.ca/choosewell/events.