Two easy ways to live healthy in 2014

Did you make a New Year's resolution to get healthier this year? Here are two ideas to start your resolution off right:

Eat fresh produce - yes, some vegetables are still in season this time of year. Squash, sweet potatoes, kale, and onions are great winter choices that are available until April or May. Butternut squash is high in heart-disease-preventing carotenoids, while onions are great for lowering blood pressure.

Get walking!
Exercising can be particularly daunting in the cold months, but it’s not any less important to your health. Indoor options such as walking in your local shopping mall can help you stay in shape this season. Still need motivation? Consider these benefits of mall walking:

• Weather - Since you are in an indoor mall, you don’t have to worry about the cold, rain, or snow. You can even leave your coat in the car.
• Traffic - With no cars to worry about, it is easier to find a comfortable walking pace and stick with it.
• Plumbing - In a shopping mall, you can stop for a drink at the water fountain or to use the restroom at any time.
• Bonus - You can window-shop while you exercise!

Oxmoor Center, Mall St. Matthews, and Jefferson Mall each offer walking programs through Norton Healthcare’s Get Healthy Walking Club. Members of this free club receive a T-shirt, pedometer, and other benefits and gain access to the malls’ walking paths during special hours:

Mall St. Matthews opens at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday to accommodate walkers. • 1.2 miles per lap

Oxmoor Center opens at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. • 0.75 miles per lap

Jefferson Mall opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. • 0.75 miles per lap

Learn more about the mall walking programs or join the Get Healthy Walking Club by visiting nortonhealthcare.com/walkingclub or calling 502.629.1234.

Learn more healthy living tips in our winter issue of Today's Transitions.