This program truly lives up to its name. The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award challenge will help you add physical activity to your life—and now, it will also help improve your eating habits. (That’s why we’re calling it PALA+.) Get active and eat better, and you’ll feel better, too. Plus, you’ll earn an award. Start the PALA+ challenge!
Is This For Me?
This challenge is for anyone, from students to seniors, but it’s geared toward people who want to set themselves on the road to a healthier life through positive changes to physical activity and eating behaviors. Vegetarians, vegans, and others with dietary restrictions can participate, too.
Adults (that’s anyone aged 18 and older), your goals are:
- Physical activity. You need to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, for 6 out of 8 weeks. As an alternative, you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer (goal: 8,500).
- Healthy eating. Each week, you’ll also focus on a healthy eating goal. There are eight to choose from, and each week you will add a new goal while continuing with your previous goals. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll be giving your body more of the good stuff it needs.
Kids and teens (that’s anyone between 6 and 17 years), your goals are:
- Physical activity. You need to be active 60 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, for 6 out of 8 weeks. As an alternative, you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer (goal: 12,000). Read about the recent change to step requirements for kids and teens.
- Healthy eating. Each week, you’ll also focus on a healthy eating goal. There are eight to choose from, and each week you will add a new goal while continuing with your previous goals. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll be giving your body more of the good stuff it needs.
Starting the PALA will help you or your students:
- Commit to daily physical activity—and stick with it.
- Commit to making healthier food choices—one goal at a time.
- Set realistic goals to encourage fitness and healthy eating habits for a lifetime.
- Track your progress with our free personal activity log, which you can access online after you create an individual account, or on a paper log.
Have fun! Yes, you need to be active every day, but participants can choose all kinds of activities to meet this goal—playing with the kids, gardening, walking, playing basketball, running, yoga, and more—all while fueling your body with nutritious foods.
Did Someone Say ‘Award’?
It’s easy to earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. All it takes is a commitment to being active and healthier eating for 6 out of 8 weeks. Stick with the program and you’ll earn an award in less than two months. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today!
