Being a good steward of our physical well-being includes caring for our bodies and effectively managing and conserving resources. We all are part of subcultures: our families, congregations, organizations and work environments. We can shape and transform our cultures through education and the offering of healthy choices.

Food and drink
The subculture of our family, which includes the way we eat, traditions and rituals, informs the way we care for ourselves and how we see the world. In many cultures, food equals love because it brings happy memories of birthdays, holidays and other gatherings. As we grow and evolve, we can learn different ways of demonstrating love and adopt healthy approaches to eating.

Often, we eat for the wrong reasons; rather than listening to our body’s signals of hunger, thirst, fatigue or anxiety, we mask them with unhealthy habits like overindulging in food or drink or pushing ourselves beyond our limits. We need to evaluate our hunger and eat when we’re hungry rather than just because it’s mealtime or because we’re stressed or lonely. Replace these unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones, like walking or calling a friend. Reduce temptations by eliminating from your home items you most often rely on as comfort food (e.g., chips, candy).

It's important to slow down and pay attention to our senses as we eat. Savor how the food tastes and smells. Appreciate its texture and color. As we think about these senses, we can truly experience and give thanks for the gift of food.

Our socioeconomic background also informs our food choices. When we have a limited income, our food choices are more limited. As individuals living in a fast-paced world, we too often choose fast food because it is convenient and relatively low cost.

People are finding themselves eating meals outside the home more often. We live in a portion-distorted society. Often, we could eat half our order and take the rest home for dinner. Learning what constitutes appropriate serving sizes is helpful (www.eatright.org). Some other tips for healthy restaurant eating:

• Avoid deep-fried foods (e.g., choose broiled rather than deep-fried fish)
• Choose a clear, broth-based soup rather than a cream-based one (e.g., choose minestrone over lobster bisque)
• When ordering a salad, ask for your dressing on the side

Become familiar with dietary guidelines for your sex, age and activity level (www.mypyramid.gov). At the end of the day, review what you have eaten. Have you had a balanced diet? Included fruits and vegetables? Whole grains? Dairy products? Lean meats, fish, poultry, nuts or legumes? Good fats? All food is good food. It’s a matter of proportion. For example, when you consume sweets, enjoy them, recognize how they fit into your dietary needs, and tailor your physical activity in response. When your diet hasn’t been balanced on a particular day, don’t beat yourself up; make the sign of the cross on your forehead and begin again.

We also can benefit by thinking about what we drink. We need to drink enough water for our cells to be viable and functioning. Drinking water helps to hydrate, decreases our hunger and is a good choice because it has no calories. In contrast, drinking a can of soda a day can pack on 32 pounds a year.

Rest and renewal
Rest and time for renewal are vital for optimal functioning of our bodies. Allowing yourself to sleep until you wake up without an alarm will tell you how much sleep you need each night. Sleep is often the first thing we forego when we adhere to a demanding schedule. Likewise, time away from work and honoring days off and vacation provides necessary rest and refreshment. Honoring the Sabbath provides the renewal we need for our spiritual well-being.

Stewardship of resources
In regard to our financial resources, we need to pay attention to our debt load and plan for retirement. In regard to our earth's resources, we need to care for our environment, from remembering to recycle to forgoing the use of herbicides on lawns.

Physical well-being can also come in the form of honoring one another. For example, where were our clothes made and by whom? Were they made in a sweat shop? These situations impact the well-being of our neighbors.

Physical activity
Take the first step to increasing your physical activity by considering these ideas:

• Schedule "walking time" in your calendar
• Bring a friend, family member or colleague
• Begin slowly with 2-minute walks; use a pedometer to keep track of your steps or miles
• Take a walking break
• Schedule "Walk and Talk" meetings
• Walk (in place when you talk on the telephone
• Empty your wastebaskets every day
• Park further away; don’t take the closest parking spot
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Avoid the restaurant drive-through; walk in
• Carry your groceries into your house one bag at a time

Pedometers are a great way to keep track of your daily activity. Pedometers that count steps are the most reliable. For the greatest accuracy, keep your step counter centered over your right or left hipbone; it should line up with the front crease of your trousers. The step counter must be firmly attached. The best bet is to attach it to a belt.

A pedometer has:

• The power to simplify. The burden of having to keep track of the time or distance walked is eliminated because the pedometer monitors your activity for you
• The power to motivate. Users of pedometers say that simply knowing the number of steps they have taken pushes them to go further and meet their goal. It encourages creativity to find more ways to add steps to a daily routine
• The power to compete. If you enjoy competition, you might challenge a friend or colleague to join you in a contest for a day, or you might set goals and compete with yourself. Reward yourself with something special when that goal is met
• The Cooper Institute recommends the pedometers available at www.digiwalker.com or www.accusplit.com.