Healthy moms are good role models for their families

Mothers are busy people with multiple respomsibilities for their families, their jobs, and their communities.

One of moms' most important roles is as front line health educators for their families. Just think of all the important health advice we learn from mothers, or have given as a mother -- "Hold hands and look both ways when you cross the street. Wash your hands after using the bathroom. Eat some breakfast--it's the most important meal of the day. Drink your milk. Eat your veggies…."

Mother's Day was celebrated last weekend. This week, May 11-17, is National Women's Health Week, a time for women to make their health a top priority and to take simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life. Steps women are urged to take include:

* Engaging in physical activity most days of the week

* Eating a nutritious diet

* Visiting a healthcare provider to receive regular check-ups and preventive screenings

* Avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health coordinates the celebration with the slogan, "It's Your Time: Get Inspired. Get Healthy." Moms, and women in general, are good at taking care of others, but sometimes don't take time to care for themselves. When women make healthy choices for themselves, they also role model healthy lifestyles for their children, grandchildren, and others with whom they interact.

Being an inspiring role model can happen these ways:

Be a role model for eating smart: Family meals are the perfect place to "walk the talk" of a delicious, nutritious eating style. Show kids you care about your bones by drinking milk -- and improve everyone's health by serving a vegetable or two. Choose more healthy whole grains. Snack smart with lots of nutrient-rich veggies and fruit.

Be a role model for playing hard: Children do as they see. When they see you being active and having fun, they'll choose an active lifestyle over the boredom of a couch potato. Make fun fitness part of your family's everyday routine. Walk or bike with your kids, enjoy an evening at a playground, or plan a hike or ball game for the weekend.

Be a role model for resting well: Getting enough sleep is essential for busy moms. It helps them be less irritable and better able to cope with the normal stresses of family life. Getting enough sleep helps children be less cranky and helps them succeed in school as well. Getting enough sleep helps both children and adults maintain a healthy weight.

Positive role models are important for all children, and are especially critical for girls. The media models for young women tend to be super skinny and to focus on wacky, restrictive diets. Girls need to see that a healthy weight is about balancing a variety of choices from all the food groups with regular physical activity. They also need to see that beautiful, active, healthy bodies come in many different shapes and sizes -- just like moms.

Editor's Note: Ann Ludlum is a K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 223-3720.