Be a healthier you in 2020 by focusing on good nutrition, physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight, experts say. They’re key to your well-being and are routes to avoiding or better managing high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

“The key to a successful dietary or fitness change is creating a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable/realistic, and time-oriented,” said Dr. Josie Bidwell, associate professor in the University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Preventive Medicine. “Once you have a good goal, then an action plan and back-up plan give the road map to achieving it.”

The daily vegetable and fruit intake for a high percentage of Americans doesn’t meet recommendations. “My simple nutrition advice is to eat real food, not processed or artificial, but mostly plants such as fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,” Bidwell said.

In addition to a poor diet, a majority of adults and children aren’t getting the recommended amount of physical activity.

For most healthy adults, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. For kids ages 5-17, it’s 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily and vigorous to intense physical activity at least three days a week.

If your action plan falters, Bidwell said, “Move on. Don’t beat yourself up over momentary decisions. Keep your eye on the goal!”

When minor medical issues keep you from your wellness routine, the C Spire Health app puts convenient healthcare in the palm of your hand through access to everyday urgent care, non-emergency visits with a UMMC provider. Appointments are available from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. You’ll be referred to a higher level of care if needed.

Get more information about downloading the C Spire Health app and using the health care service here: