Healthy Eating-Healthy Action (HEHA) is the Ministry of Health’s strategic approach to improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and achieving healthy weight for all New Zealanders.
The HEHA vision is to have a social environment where individuals, communities, and families/whanau are supported to make healthy eating choices, live physically active lives, and maintain a healthy body weight.
South Canterbury District Health Board has prepared a HEHA action plan (MAP – Ministry approved plan) to support this strategic vision in our region. SCDHB’s MAP focuses on five areas: schools and early childhood centres; children, young persons and their whanau; breastfeeding; workforce capacity and capability; and primary and secondary health care settings.
Syd Horgan and Melissa Ward are the HEHA project managers at South Canterbury District Health Board. Their role is to work with stakeholders in the South Canterbury region to develop plans, provide support and coordinate programmes to implement the HEHA objectives.
Check out our Living Healthy quarterly publication for tips and information about nutrition and physical activity:
HEHA has 8 priority messages:
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Key Message
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Tips
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Eat a variety of nutritious foods
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Eat something from each food group every day
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Eat less fatty, salty and sugary foods
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Try oven baked chips instead of deep-fried versions
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Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
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Keep a fruit bowl at your desk or on the kitchen bench
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Fully breastfeed infants for at least 6 months
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Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby is established as soon as possible after the birth and lasts at least 30 minutes
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Be active every day for at least 30 minutes in as many ways as possible
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Make the most of the longer evenings with a walk, a game of tennis or some gardening.
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Include some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness
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A couple of times a week push yourself harder so you're really puffing during your chosen activity
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Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life
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Eat more fruits and vegetables - they fill you up, are lower in kilojoules and higher in nutrient value.
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Promote and foster the development of environments that support healthy lifestyle
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Create a vegetable garden in your home, school or community - it'll be good exercise and supply yummy fresh vegetables.
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