If your New Year’s resolution involves health and wealth improvement, you’re in luck. The Cooperative Extension system is launching an online Small Steps to Health and Wealth challenge. This free six-week program, Jan. 13 through Feb. 23, is open to anyone who enrolls online.
The challenge is part of a national Cooperative Extension program developed to motivate Americans to improve their health and personal finances. It is based on the daily performance of 10 recommended practices.
Five of these behaviors involve health and nutrition; five involve financial management.
The five daily health and nutrition practices are:
•Eat four cups of fruits and vegetables
•Get 30 minutes of physical activity
•Drink water or unsweetened beverages instead of sugar-sweetened beverages
•Eat two servings of whole grain foods
•Learn something new about health and nutrition
The five daily financial management practices are:
•Save $1 or more and pocket change
•Invest $5 or more per day
•Track money spent throughout the day
•Eat lunch prepared at home
•Learn something new about personal finance
You get 10 points for performing each practice, for a maximum of 700 points per week and 4,200 points for the entire challenge.
Prizes will be awarded for participants who report the highest total points.
Doing even one of the 10 recommended daily practices is a start on the path to better health and improved financial security.
Elaine Courtney is a Family & Consumer Sciences Extension agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Start the year focusing on health, wealth