Summer Makeover Program Inspires UA Families to Lead Healthier Lives

Tuscaloosa, Ala. – The new Summer Family Makeover program from The University of Alabama Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, aimed at inspiring UA employees and their  families to be healthier, will kick off with a fun launch at the University’s outdoor pool complex on Thursday, June 18, from 4-7 p.m.

The free, six-week program includes nutritional counseling, weekly tips, daily food and activity logs,  connections to additional campus resources, as well as weekly prize drawings. A grand prize family trip will be awarded to the winner of a short essay contest at the end of the program.

Summer Family Makeover, limited to the first 50 families of UA employees to register, will help participants learn the five guiding principles of better health and wellness while encouraging them to work towards goals together.

“This program gives families the strategies and tools they need to embrace healthy habits for life,” says Rebecca Kelly, director of the UA Office of Health Promotion and Wellness.

“While change can seem challenging, it can be easy to achieve if the whole family is on board. Just remembering to drink more water and eat more fresh produce is a great start. Increasing exercise by enjoying family walks and getting more sleep are two other simple ways to make good health a habit,” she says.

Families looking for ways to improve their health this summer can follow UA’s Summer Family Makeover daily principles to:

• Eat – five fruits and vegetables and one meal together as a family.
• Drink – five or more cups of water and other fluids to include one percent milk or 100 percent fruit juices.
• Think – limit time on the TV/computer to two hours; plan and do one family activity together.
• Move – 60 minutes to include 5,000-10,000 steps per day.
• Rest – nine or more hours of sleep for children and seven or more hours for adults.

The UA Office of Health Promotion and Wellness offers programs, resources and services to advance the health of employees and their family members. For more information, contact them at 205/348-0077 or wellness@ua.edu.