Healthy Living Tools
The Tri-County area has so many great resources to support you on your path to better health. In addition to our Community Calendar of healthy living activities, be sure to check out these resources for physical activity, healthy eating, mental health, and substance abuse & tobacco use prevention.
Get active and get healthy! From special events, fitness classes, women's health programs, dancing, cooking, yoga, and support groups, this guide showcases all of the healthy living activities that AL!VE, Your Community Well-being Place (800 W Lawrence Ave, Charlotte, MI) has to offer. Note that AL!VE is also a destination health park, opened by Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, and there are no entry fees to visit. All mid-Michigan residents and visitors are welcome. For questions, call (517) 541-5800.
These quick and easy ideas for healthy kids' snacks are perfect to pack in a lunchbox or serve as an after-school snack that won't ruin their appetite for dinner. These snacks are full of nutritious ingredients and can even be prepared by your kids.
Healthy! Capital Counties works to ensure that all people in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties live in a physical, social, and cultural environment that supports health; live in a safe, vibrant, and prosperous community that provides many opportunities to contribute and thrive; and live in a community with minimal barriers and adequate resources to reach their full potential. Learn about the health of the Tri-County area and the steps local public health departments and community leaders are taking to improve health outcomes.
When kids prepare meals and snacks for themselves, it is a great time to inspire them to try new and healthy foods. This site also has vegetarian recipes and recipes tailored for kids with cystic fibrosis, diabetes, lactose intolerance, and celiac disease.
Lansing Parks & Recreation provides over 500 recreation programs and events for children, youth, and adults Activities take place during the week, after-school, and on weekends. Whether you are looking for a swim, dance, exercise, or martial arts class, or a recreational team sport, you are sure to find something for your entire family.
Let's Garden Lansing is an online listing of local educational classes and events on gardening, food, and nutrition. A joint project of NorthWest Initiative, The Garden Project, the Allen Neighborhood Center, the South Lansing Community Development Association, MSU Extension, and the City of Lansing.
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t be out walking! There are many indoor opportunities to walk during these colder months, such as community centers, malls, and schools. And if you do want to be out in the brisk weather, there are plenty of groomed trails and walkways to visit. Check out our Walking Resources flyer for walking tips, walking locations, and other free walking resources.
The MI Big Green Gym initiative is designed to promote overall well-being and a healthy lifestyle through use of parks and recreation facilities. Michigan has some of the country's premier parks, which provide unique and fun ways to stay active and spend time with family and community. Michigan really is a big green gym, with endless opportunities to get active. Learn more about the program and check out the Online Events Calendar at
www.mrpaonline.org/Programs/MI-Big-Green-Gym.
If you are interested in the resources offered by the State of Michigan to help you achieve your weight loss goals, take the MI Healthier Tomorrow pledge. You will receive a free Starter Kit with motivational tips, money-saving offers and other goodies. MI Healthier Tomorrow will keep you going when you sign up for their e-mails or text messages. It's a little motivation twice a month to keep you focused on what you pledged so you can reach your goal of losing weight and being healthier.
Losing just 10% of your body weight can make significant improvements to both your physical and mental health. A 10% weight loss for those who are overweight can:
- Improve blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Improve heart health
- Decrease risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Strengthen the immune system
- Decrease back and joint pain
- Improve breathing and sleep
- Increase energy and stamina
- Improve mood and self-confidence
Million pound weight loss health initiative spearheaded by Lettuce Live Well and the City of Lansing. Join for free and find local free support to achieve your health goals, including an online activity tracker for calorie burn, sleep patterns, and eating habits; online goal setting (challenge yourself or join a group and set daily step and calorie goals); fitness groups; e-newsletter; and resources for meal planning and nutritional coaching.
MSU Extension’s Food & Health programming promotes healthy lifestyles and empowers Michigan residents to take control of their personal health. Learn about
Food Budgeting and how to stretch your food dollars,
Food Preservation methods such as freezing and canning, promoting
Healthy Relationships to improve your overall health and wellbeing,
Nutrition,
Physical Activity, and Weight Management. Includes workshops such as Cooking Matters and Stretching Your Food Dollar. Visit the MSU Extension website for articles, class schedules, and workshops.
Commit to quit smoking in 2015. For local resources to help you quit tobacco, please see Ingham County Health Department's
Quit Tobacco Resources Sheet.
QuitDayoffers online resources to help you or a friend or family member quit smoking. Resources include information on smoking's effects on children and keeping kids away from tobacco, the effects of smoking and quitting smoking, withdrawal symptoms and how to manage them, quitting cold turkey, and e-cigarettes.
Quit Smoking Community is a new online community that offers support and information to people who are looking to quit smoking. Smokers work with other smokers to quit together, and ex-smokers provide encouragement and advice. Resources include the 100 Hour Challenge, Quit Journal entries, cravings reports, Video Hangouts, and rewards.
The Winter Warm-Up is now in its 14thyear, helping us stay active throughout the winter months. Have fun getting fit with this year's Winter Warm-Up, featuring the Blue Cross Community Couch to 5K. This free 8-week program is open to all ages and abilities and offers weekly sessions with Good Form Running and Walking Coaches from the PlaymakersFitness Foundation, to get you ready for a community-wide 5K on March 12 at Hawk Island Park. Sign up with Team Charlotte, Delhi, Delta, DeWitt, East Lansing, Lansing, St. Johns, or Williamston– whichever is most convenient for you!
Supportive breast cancer fitness and yoga classes for patients and survivors to help reduce the side effects of cancer treatment and aid in prevention of recurrence. The Turning Point Program helps breast cancer survivors improve their emotional, physical and overall quality of life. The first year of the program is FREE for new participants, and scholarships are available. Visit their
website or
Facebook page.
AL!VE: Winter 2016 Program Guide
Eating Well: Recipes for Kids' Snacks
Healthy! Capital Counties
Kids Health: Recipes & Cooking for Kids
Lansing Parks & Recreation: Winter/Spring 2016 Activities Guide
Let's Garden Lansing 
Let's Walk! Walking Tips & Resources
MI Big Green Gym
Metro Lansing Loses a Million
MSU Extension Workshops 
Winter Warm-Up
YMCA Turning Point Program for Breast Cancer Survivors