Terri Kretzmeier discussed Choose Wisely: For Health and Wealth at Mondays Happy Hearts FCE meeting at Iolas Riverside Park.
Everyone makes choices every day, Kretzmeier said. Some involve deciding what to eat, how much to eat and whether a person engages in physical activity.
Chronic disease such as obesity is responsible for more than 70 percent of Kansas health care costs.
Making healthy lifestyle choices can change that, she continued.
If Americans were to stop smoking, exercise regularly and eat well, they could eliminate up to 80 percent of heart disease diagnoses and strokes, 80 percent of type 2 diabetes and cut the cancer rate by 40 percent, Kretzmeier said.
Check your food for calories, she said. Be sure to look at serving sizes and how many servings youre consuming. Choose foods with lower calories, less saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and sodium.
Find food higher in protein, fiber and vitamins.
Pay attention to the ingredients as well to see if theres added sugar and determine if a product is whole grain or contains potential allergens. Fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy contain a wide variety of nutrients your body needs without a lot of extra calories.
Eating mostly nutrient dense food also allows you to eat more while staying without a daily calorie limit.
Happy Hearts will meet again at 7 p.m. May 20 at Riverside Park.
