IDFA is an associate member of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), a group of food companies and community organizations. The foundation's goal is to help families change their eating and activity habits by eating together more often and being active together. Each month, we post an update about current work of the HWCF. Feel free to share the information and resources with your customers. The holiday season brings plenty of parties, family gatherings and delicious food. For some, events like these bring anxiety about weight. The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, of which we are a member, emphasizes the importance of “energy balance” – balancing the calories you take in through food with those you burn through exercise. Try and set a goal this month to maintain this kind of balance. After dessert, take a walk around the neighborhood with your kids, or go ice skating or sledding. Winter activities provide great opportunities for exercise! Along with food and festivities, December is also a great time to start thinking about the year ahead – what you’d like to change, how you can contribute to your community and new goals to set for the months to come. In terms of energy balance goals, maybe you want to run a 5K or try a new recipe once a week. Through HWCF’s Together Counts ™ campaign, you can find a variety of tools that can help bring energy balance to your community. They have great (and free!) curriculum for teachers, nurses and parent-run after-school programs. In addition, you can enter your child’s school into three separate sweepstakes and incentives programs where schools will win thousands of dollars in prizes, new playgrounds and equipment. One of these programs is the third annual Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes, sponsored by HWCF, Good Sports and Playworld Systems. Two grand prize winners will receive a new playground and $30,000 in prizes and equipment, and three runners-up will receive $5,000 in prizes. You and everyone you know can enter on behalf of your school, up to once per day. December is the last month to enter, so go to www.TogetherCounts.com and give your school a chance to win!