Four Simple Steps to a Healthier You with Honey Nut Cheerios

This post was sponsored by Honey Nut Cheerios. All content and opinions are my own

According to the CDC about half of all Americans (47%) have at least one of the three key risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. A healthier you can start today with these four simple steps.

1. Make Time for You and Reduce Stress/Anxiety

We are all busy with activities, responsibilities and showing up for others but none of that will matter if we don’t show up for ourselves. Self-care seems to always end up at the bottom of our to-do list but it is time to move it up. Self-care encompasses activities that you do to support your physical, spiritual, and mental health. Focusing on all three areas are a great start to a healthier you.

Physical: Start moving and feel better, function better during the day, and sleep better at night. Schedule and commit to regular exams with medical professionals to keep your body in top shape.

Spiritual: Give yourself time to process your emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Always remember that you matter.

Mental Health: Creating routines help you feel more in control and focused on what’s important. Time blocks and journaling help me keep my time organized.

2. Focus on the Food Rules

Remember those rules we learned as children about our relationship with food and the importance of shopping the right aisles in the market.

• Go for the Grains: The whole grain oats in Honey Nut Cheerios contain beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is a soluble fiber shown to help lower cholesterol as part of a heart healthy diet. Three grams of soluble fiber daily from wholegrain oat foods like Honey Nut Cheerios cereal, in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Honey Nut Cheerios cereal provides 0.75g per serving.
• Shop the Colors: Make colorful fruits and vegetables the major part of any meal. The FDA recommended amount is 2- 2.5 cups of vegetables and 1.5-2 cups of fruit per day , but more never hurts and colors can lift your moods.

3. Go Out and Play

Our parents had the right idea, when they encouraged out to go out and play. Get moving at least 30 minutes a day. Find the activity that you love- Maybe it’s a dance party with the kids, a walk in the neighborhood, or participating in your kids’ favorite sport.  The good thing is that you don’t need any fancy gym or equipment. It doesn’t really matter what you do, just that you do it. The infographic below gives you some extra ideas.

4. Join the Whole Heart Challenge on MyFitnessPal 

Honey Nut Cheerios partnered with MyFitnessPal to encourage people to lead a heart-healthy lifestyle by participating in activities that make you smile from the inside out. Tracking food and fitness should be fun and Honey Nut Cheerios wants to reward those who commit to their health and have some laughs along the way! 

Signing up is easy- just click here for my info! Log your heart healthy food and happy heart activities to unlock badges and earn prizes.