Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 35, Number 11, 1 Nowemapa 2018 — Happy Healthy Holidays [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Happy Healthy Holidays

By Jasmine LeFever Oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, aunty's famous haupia pie... all the 'ono food your heart could want. Yes, it's that happy holidays time of year again. These months are often a blur of family gatherings, festive meals, and celebrating life's blessings. They are also usually marked by gaining a few

pounds, or more. While the oecasional indulgence for most people is fine, Aunty Edna Baldado, a registered nurse and long-time health educator for Hui Mālama Ola Nā 'Ōiwi (Hui Mālama), reminds us that the key to being healthy is maintaining balance. Aunty Edna, who has about 50 years experience in the heahh field, i

sat down with us to provide some insight into having healthy talks during the holiday season. The topic of heahh is not always a fun one, and in fact is one that is often avoided. You may know that an unele was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and yet, he's finishing his fourth eookie. Or you may have a cousin that says time and again, "I

like lose 10 pounds," but she never does anything different. It is hard to watch someone making unhealthy choices, but what ean you say or do? If you have concerns about the heahh of a loved one, it ean be hard to know how to talk to them about it. Aunty Edna put it simply, "It's basic human nature. If you tell somebody, 'No, you can't eat that,' they're going to do the opposite. No one likes to be told what not to do." Instead, Aunty recommends having a conversation about heahh with your 'ohana using a talk story approach. "While you're eating, it's easy to talk story about what you like, what's 'ono," she says. "Try adding in a thought about what could make that dish healthier and what changes you ean make to the recipe." Aunty Edna also suggests that people share their personal heahh stories: "Speaking about our own heahh challenges and successes ean sometimes be more effective in reaching your family or friend." She recalls one man who told a story about sneaking sugary treats, "His wife had some iee cream in the freezer that he wasn't allowed to have because of his diabetes. One day she went to have a scoop and the whole thing was empty! She asked her husband about it and he said, 'No, it wasn't me.' A eouple of days later the wife

NATIVE HAWAIIAN » NEWS | FEATURES | EVENTS overheard her husband laughing with his friend, 'I wait until she goes to sleep, and then I go to da freezer and I whaek da iee cream!'" That man eventually eame to a diabetes management class at Hui Mālama where he met Aunty Edna. He shared his story with the rest of the class. At first, he didn't take the diabetes seriously, but he kept wondering why his blood glucose numbers were so high. He realized eating all the iee cream was not so funny when it eame to his heahh. He did not want his diabetes and side effects to get worse. Smiling, Aunty shares, "It's that type of personal story that is so powerful." Similar to sharing personal stories, it's impactful to encourage changes by living a healthier life yourself. Sometimes words are not the way, but seeing your healthy actions may be what some loved ones need to start their own changes. If your family knows you love soda and you cut back on soda, or switch to something healthier, they'll notice. When you regularly go for a walk before dinner or start a new workout routine, they '11 notice. When it's dinner time and you make your balanced plate with healthy portions, they'll notice. It's not always easy to make those healthier choices during the holidays. In a time of good company and having fun, many people do not pay attention to what they're eating. Aunty Edna SEE HEALTHY H0LIDAYS ON PAGE 8

Aunty Edna Baldūdo

HEALTHY H0LIDAYS Continued from page 6

advises, "Be mindful. Have fun, talk story, enjoy the food, but be mindful of whieh foods you choose and portion sizes." Of course we all know that when your mom, grandma or aunties make you food, you eat it. Aunty agrees, however, she has a trick, "I eat some, but I don't overindulge. I make my plate and while we talk story, I eat slowly. I still get to eat and talk story with everyone, but I am mindful of how mueh I eat." Heahh is a serious topic and sometimes a serious conversation is what is needed. Other times, approaching the conversation from a fun, light-hearted angle ean make a bigger impact. Aunty Edna encourages everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, "Make healthy choices this holiday season. Eating well, regular physical activity, and being supportive of our 'ohana in their journeys will help us all to live healthier." ■ Hui Mālama Ola Nā 'Ōiwi is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the heallh and weliness ofHawai'i island. Services are ojfered island-wide and open to the community. Interested in learning more? Visit HMONO. org or eall ( 808) 969-9220.