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Keep on Moving: Going for a Stroll in the Park

by LIVING HEALTH on July 26, 2016

On a warm, breezy, afternoon while the birds are chirping and there are puffy white clouds in the sky, there is no better place to be than the park.—Anastasia Johnson

Whether you would rather sip on lemonade while sitting in the grass reading a book, jog around the trail, or play with your kids on the jungle gym, there are hundreds of ways to have a good day at the park.

Nowadays, many prefer to stay home and relax in front of the television, watching their favorite shows, but in the old days, on a Sunday afternoon, families gathered at the park. In most small towns, even to this day, the park is the heart of the community. There is no reason why it cannot be the same way in the larger cities as well.

In order to help bring more vitality to yourself, your family and your community, here are some tips for a fun, healthy and inexpensive park experience:

Make it a Picnic!

Bring a picnic basket with a healthy lunch! Bring a blanket to sit on, your favorite food, and relax with family and friends.

Examples of a healthy lunch: in the summer, bring a fruit salad with organic cottage cheese or a parfait, made with organic yogurt, granola and fruit.

Kalona Supernatural is my favorite brand for cottage cheese and yogurt. String cheese is a good protein option as long as it is made with pasture-raised cows.

Take a stroll around the park!

Did you know that exercising doesn’t have to be rigorous and exhausting? Sometimes a quick run, jog, or (my personal favorite) walk around the park is the best medicine.

Being outdoors and becoming connected to nature is a simple task you can do that will heal and relax you. One of my favorite things to do to relax is go out side, take my shoes off, and put my feet in the cool grass.

Bring your music

If you bring your iPhone with speakers or earbuds, first create a playlist that motivates you to keep on moving. Your body adapts to beat.

Bring a healthy sweet to wrap up the day!

Help your kids, and yourself, resist the temptation of the ice-cream truck and instead bring healthy treats, such as a natural store-bought protein bar or a home-made snack. Don’t forget to stay hydrated with water or better yet, coconut water.

Finding the best parks

There are parks everywhere, even in the smallest of towns. Some parks have bicycle and/or jogging trails, some have lakes with birds and even small boats to practice rowing. Others have large trees with shade to relax and green grass to run, play games, and roll on.

In the United States, each municipality and state has its own State Parks. All you need to do is search for (name of your state) State Parks and you will be rewarded with a variety of well-preserved, echo-friendly parks.

201405_Keep_On_Moving_A Stroll in the Park