Dear Friends,

As we are approaching the Holidays, we are approaching cold and flu season. There are things you can do to be proactive in caring for your health and the health of your family.

Replace toothbrushes monthly.

Toothbrushes hold germs, and if anyone is sick, you will want to replace their toothbrush when they start feeling better. As a general rule of thumb, replace toothbrushes at the beginning of the month. You can dip them in mouthwash and rinse them to cut down on the germs. It’s important that you rinse the toothbrush if it is for a young child.

Drink water daily.

Drinking water daily flushes toxins from your body and hydrates you. If you become dehydrated, you become lethargic, and you are more susceptible to germs. Encourage your children to drink water as well. This is a habit to instill in your children while they are young.

Eat healthy.

Plan your menus. Grocery shop. Prepare your meals. Offer a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. If you have picky eaters, keep offering healthy foods to them. Don’t make it a power struggle, but you can encourage them to try new things. Eating a healthy diet will build your immune system. During cold and flu season, try to avoid take out and processed foods and sugars. I know it’s hard during the Holidays, so make sweet treats a rare occasion.

Get enough rest.

If you do not have an established bedtime for everyone, start this week. Getting adequate sleep helps your body fight off germs. It also helps you to be less stressed and cranky, if you are getting enough rest at night.

Exercise.

With shorter daylight hours and colder weather, we tend to spend less time outside. Be creative in getting in movement daily for you and your children. You can use an app on your phone to track steps. If you have never tracked your steps before, you can start now and get a baseline. I shoot for a minimum of 10,000 steps per day. You can do other types of exercise, too. Step counting is the easiest way for me to track my daily movement.

Have your physicals and bloodwork done.

Have you had a physical lately and bloodwork? If not, schedule an appointment. A large percentage of Americans are low on Vitamin D, and it only gets worse in the winter with less sunlight. There are other important components of your blood work, too.

Relax.

Do something to relax every day. By reducing your stress and not rushing around all of the time, you will not be taxing your adrenal system. If you are too busy, start looking at things you can eliminate from your calendar. Some of you with young children will need to be creative, but you can carve out 5 minutes a day to relax.

Have fun.

After you eliminate some of the extra things in your schedule, you will have more time to have fun with your children. Play with your children. Laughter is good for you.

Enjoy your life. Enjoy your family. Stay well and take precautions!

Your Home Blessing for today is to declutter paper and magazines.

My menu plan for Thursday is chicken and a salad.