If you're a mom, you might want to start dropping hints about Mother's Day gift ideas.  If your family is typical, they'll need a little help trying to find the right surprise.  Not sure what to ask for?  Why not use this as an opportunity to get a few healthy tools to boost your weight loss program?

Healthy Mother's Day Gifts

• Cooking Gadgets. If you enjoy cooking and are trying to lose weight, stock up your kitchen with cooking tools and gadgets that will help you lose weight.

• Fun Exercise Tools. Get excited about a spring workout plan with passes to a new class or with a fun new workout tool.  Try out one of the best workouts for overweight exercisers, or change your body composition with weights.

• Fitness Vacation. If you have a generous family, suggest that they splurge and send you on a fitness vacation to New York City.  See the sights and lose weight at the same time!

Looking for a healthy way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo?  This traditional Mexican holiday is a great excuse to eat and drink, but if you are trying to lose weight it can also be a challenge.

Low Calorie Drinks

There is too much good food to eat during Cinco de Mayo to waste your calories on alcohol.  Traditional drinks like a margarita can be packed with calories.  Many times, the blended version that you get in a restaurant can have 300 or more calories.

Instead, try making your own sangria. Low Sugar Sangria with Agave Nectar is fresh, fruity and pairs well with spicy food.  Or make your own custom sangria by adding chunks of fruit, such as pineapple, apples, or strawberries to white or red wine. After combining those ingredients, chill overnight.  Add sparkling water or club soda before serving.

Low Calorie Snacks

Traditional favorites like guacamole are easy to overeat.  Avocado is full of healthy fat, but to keep your diet in check you should only eat a very small amount.  If you choose to indulge, cut the total calorie burden by eating it on cut vegetables like jicama, instead of high calorie chips.

A better alternative is Edamame and Broccoli Dip.  This high protein, low fat dip can be eaten with whole wheat chips or fresh vegetable sticks.  And since it's bright green color looks just guacamole, the guests at your celebration may not mind the swap.

If you are walking for exercise and to improve your health, you may want to monitor your pace. A new study has found that walking speed matters if you want to live longer.  A recent study conducted in Australia examined the walking speeds of 1705 men. Researchers found that those who walked at a faster pace were more likely to outpace the grim reaper.

How fast should you walk?

In the Australian study, men who walked at a pace of 3 miles per hour lived the longest.  Of course, the men who were physically able to walk that fast may have been healthier in the first place so it may be a stretch to assume that if you walk at that pace you will certainly live longer.  But other studies have looked at the health benefits of different walking speeds.

A moderate intensity workout can be reached if you walk at a pace of 100 steps per minute.  That would mean you should walk 1000 steps in ten minutes or 3000 steps in 30 minutes. Experts generally recommend 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week to improve your health and more if you are walking for weight loss.

If you don't have the time to walk for thirty minutes, you can still break up your workout throughout the day.  Three segments scattered throughout the day will do the trick.  This might be a particularly good goal for someone who works a desk job and needs to break up long periods of sitting.

Walking for Weight Loss

If you want to lose weight and get healthy, walking is a great way to start.  It is also one of the best forms of exercise for people who are overweight. Keep in mind, however, the mechanics of walking can be different if you are obese.  Your gait and center of gravity is different if your body is larger. If you are overweight and starting an exercise program, focus on consistency rather than pace.

When you are just starting out, set a goal to walk for at least ten minutes every day.  Once you have successfully reached that goal, increase the amount of time that you spend exercising.  As you get more comfortable with 20 and 30 minute sessions, then begin to focus on walking speed.

Are your kids fit and healthy? A new study presents sobering statistics about the health of our youth.  Childhood diabetes is on the rise and the disease is getting harder and harder to treat.  The best defense may be to prevent it in the first place.  Improve your kids' health by promoting good exercise and eating habits in the home.

The Best Way to Get Kids to Exercise.

It's great to promote the importance of physical activity in the home.  But your kids won't believe that exercise is important if you tell them while you're sitting on the couch watching The View (even if you've already worked out).

The best way to get your kids to exercise is to do it with them.  Go outside, play tag, ride bikes to the park, walk to the grocery store to shop for a healthy dinner, or head to the health club together.  If you or the kids are overweight, begin an exercise program together.  You may find that they inspire you as much as you motivate them.

Get Kids to Eat Healthy Meals

Every parent knows that the dinner table can become a battle zone.  Many kids would rather eat sugary cereal out of a colorful cartoon-covered box than a bowl of broccoli.  So what is a parent to do?

Try a few of these tricks to get your kids invested in their own healthy meals.

• Eliminate soda.  Get rid of sugary drinks and replace with water or skim milk.  If the kids want something different, try making fresh fruit juices as a treat.
• Take the kids to the farmers market.  Let each child choose at least one fresh fruit or vegetable to bring home.  Local growers often have samples to try and can offer preparation tips for varieties that are new to you.
• Teach your kids to cook. Let your kids be involved in the planning and cooking process.  Teach them how to prepare a healthy meal.  This may take more time in the beginning, so experiment during the weekends.  But eventually, they may be able to lift the cooking burden for you during the week.

If you or your child has already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, learn more about the diabetes diet and exercise program.