A Free Way to Keep Your Healthy New Years Resolutions this Year

Author: Amelia Joselow, Director of Marketing and Outreach, Green Program Director, Cambridge Winter Farmers Market co-manager.

We've all been there, starting strong- I will quit smoking; I will exercise more; I will eat better- but it is not always easy to keep up with these goals! According to Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT, CWS: 

"The key to keeping one's New Year's Resolutions involves picking a realistic goal, taking small steps towards that goal and learning to take slip ups in stride. 

• Pick one thing that you want to change or set one goal that you want to accomplish. 
  
• Take small steps, or make small changes every day to incorporate that change into your life. 
  
• Be sure to congratulate yourself for making these small changes. 
  
• Learn to take setbacks in stride and recommit to your goal."(http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Documents/Tips_NewYear.pdf)

This is a great reminder of how to move forward with our resolutions, but what about the challenges beyond our willpower and psyche? 

Getting and staying healthy can often benefit from the advice of a professional, whether a nutritionist, health coach, chef, or doctor. One great way to find out about your health and your options are through sites like www.health.gov and www.massresources.org/masshealth and www.challiance.org. 

Another great way is to find a free in-person source of health information. One place to do this is at the Cambridge Winter Farmers Market, where Saturday February 1st, 10am-2pm, there will be a free Health & Wellness Fair. The fair is held next to the farmers market inside the Cambridge Community Center at 5 Callender Street in Cambridge. There will be chefs offering free tastings of healthy foods, community resources to inform you about local programs and national assistance such as SNAP/EBT, as well as free blood pressure screenings, dental health info, and smoking cessation help. 

Coming to the fair is a free, fun, single step towards keeping your resolutions this year. Thanks, Cambridge Winter Farmers Market and all fair participants, for helping us stay healthy this year!