The beet

Contributed by Lindsay Steller, RD

National Walking Day is celebrated every Spring on the first Wednesday in April. To participate, simply put on some comfortable shoes and go for a 30 minute walk on April 3, 2024! The American Heart Association sponsors this day as a reminder of how beneficial walking can be for our health. For more information visit www.heart.org.

In addition to good nutrition, we know physical activity is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. Our goal is to get about 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Walking is a wonderful way to get some physical activity for all members of the family.

Walking outside is a free, simple and fun activity that can help us connect with nature while getting our exercise. Hiking trails can be a fun challenge and provide some extra exposure to different outdoor settings. Walking on a treadmill, at the mall or around the house, walking around the neighborhood or walking to a local destination such as school or the park are also great ways to get in some extra steps!

Some Benefits of Walking Include:

• Heart and Lung Health (Cardiovascular Health) which helps greatly with long-term overall health.
• Weight loss and/or keeping a healthy weight.
• Building strength in our muscles and flexibility in our joints.
• Mental Health – helping us cope with stress, sleep better, feel more energized and general improvement in our mood.

Remember to always balance physical activity with fuel for your body including proper hydration during your activity and healthy food choices before and after!

About the Author

After graduating and becoming a Registered Dietitian, Lindsay worked in Healthcare Food Service for 10 years. For the last five years, she has been working in the School Nutrition field with Whitsons Culinary Group in Ellington, CT. Lindsay enjoys doing nutrition presentations to students and providing new and exciting menu choices to students at all grade levels. According to Lindsay, “The best part of my job, and my favorite, is when a student tries something new and excitedly tells me about how much they like it!”