Over the past year, Ali and his mum Belinda have been part of the Green Prescription Active Families Programme.  Now at the end of the support that the programme offers to help support people to get started, Belinda shares the positive changes that Ali has made. “Ali has now taken the initiative to cook healthy meals and exercise daily. He looks healthier and he is happy within himself. I’ve seen a big change with the help of the Active Families Programme.”

Ali’s journey focused on the things he loves doing, and that is looking after animals. For example, one school holiday he was working with his horse every day making hay for it. Hay making, is physically demanding and it illustrates that when we are passionate about what we do it does not feel like work.

The goals Ali completed on the Active Families Programme included mindful eating, addressing portion sizes and healthy food swaps e.g. green top instead of blue top milk. During his journey, Ali reported he was sleeping better, he had more energy and he had dropped a size in his clothes.

The whānau were given all sorts of resources however the ones that Ali found the most beneficial were the Heart Foundation Healthy Recipe Booklets and he now uses them regularly. These have helped with ideas and planning for healthy meals.

Ali will continue to grow from his experience, and now that he is thriving with his healthy lifestyle changes, he is now going to focus on his academic pursuits.

If you or anyone you know that would benefit from a Green Prescription and would like to know more, please contact the Green Prescription Team at Sport Northland on 0800 ACTIVE (0800 22 8483).