By Kate Hudson
Lakewood provides a healthy community for its 60,000 residents including the city’s 29.8 percent of households with kids. The Lakewood community values promoting and practicing healthy lifestyles with options to keep people active and opportunities to access nutritious foods. The City of Lakewood has put together five tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle this summer.
1. Stay active outdoors.
Lakewood offers a myriad of recreational opportunities to keep both locals and visitors active at the 340-acre Fort Steilacoom Park, or enjoying the city’s five beautiful lakes for swimming, boating, water skiing, rowing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
This month, Fort Steilacoom Park will host SummerFEST, a two-day family festival on July 13 and 14 with the SummerFEST Triathlon onJuly 14. This is a fun and competitive sprint triathlon open to participants 15 years and older. The course consists of a half mile open water swim in American Lake, a 14-mile bike course and 3.1-mile run that begins at Fort Steilacoom Park.
2. Stay active indoors.
Living in the Pacific Northwest means that not every summer day brings sunshine. On those cooler, damp days, Lakewood locals stay healthy by heading indoors to CrossFit 253 or taking a class at Studio Hot Yoga & Wellness.
For those who want to enjoy a more speedy activity, visit the Grand Prix Raceway, an indoor racing track. It is one of the fastest indoor tracks in the country and has a climate controlled viewing lounge so you can watch friends and family race on the track.
3. Eat well.
Other healthy summer fun is at the Lakewood farmers market every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September 17. The market provides nourishing and delicious options for Lakewood residents and visitors with 50 percent of vendors selling farm fresh products grown or produced in Washington.
4. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses.
When the sun shines in the Pacific Northwest, we flock outside to snag some Vitamin D. Don’t forget to lather on sunscreen with at least 15 SPF or higher and reapply often to protect your skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington state has one of the highest rates for skin cancer in the nation.
Remember to wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet A and B rays to protect your eyes. After all, Lakewood isn’t too far from Seattle where the city is rumored to sell more sunglasses per capita than any other major U.S. city.
5. Stay hydrated.
In the Puget Sound region, we’re lucky enough to have a plentiful water supply for the next 50 years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends drinking eight glasses of water per day. Challenge yourselves this summer to drink nine.