Health, Life

Healthy Eating on a Budget- 5 Tips to Save on Groceries

 We all know that investing in our health now can save HUGE on healthcare costs in the future.  But the fact remains that eating a healthy diet can drive up our food bill each month.  In fact, a research review showed that consumers pay $1.50 more per day (per person) to eat a healthy diet!  Wow!! Essentially, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts costs a lot more than refined grains, and processed meats/foods.  For many, the added cost of healthy foods only causes more stress, making it difficult to stick to a healthy meal plan long term.

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Health, Recipes

13 Fresh & Flavorful Side Dishes Perfect for Your Outdoor BBQ

The 4th of July conjures up images of sparkling fireworks, lively BBQs, and bountiful tables of yummy eats! Let’s celebrate the day with some vibrant and flavorful dishes that are loaded with fresh produce, packed with nutrients and boasting some zesty flavors!
These are 13 fresh and flavorful side dishes that are perfect for your outdoor BBQ created by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Expect to get compliments and be ready to share the recipe!

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Health

The Art of Snacking Well

Should you satisfy your snack desires?

OR

Should you avoid the snack fix?  

This question perplexes a lot of people, especially those that are trying to lose weight and manage calories efficiently.  The idea of eating extra calories, especially if one is “not hungry” doesn’t make a lot of sense to most of us.

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Fitness, Health

Is Walking REALLY Good Enough?

Walking is man’s best medicine. — Hippocrates

Over 2000 years ago, a Greek physician claimed that walking (and food) were the best types of medicine for man.  He believed the secret to staying healthy hung on these 2 things.  Just 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson proclaimed walking as the “best possible exercise.”  Best- that’s quite a statement!

But now, hundreds of years later, does the research still support this?

Is walking really good enough?

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Health

4 Highly Effective Habits of Those Who Lost Weight and Kept It Off

Diets are obsolete, right?  We know that they just don’t work long-term. Yet, we continue to be fed messages that indicate that specially designed meal plans, diet phases, rules, and guidelines will get us results!

If you are one of millions that are trying to lose weight, trim up or reduce body fat, it’s natural for ears to perk when someone claims there is a plan that will get you where you want to go.

But, what will really yield success?

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Health, Recipes

3 Simple & Delicious Ways to Add Veggies to Family Favorites

What if living longer isn’t as much about what not to eat and more about what to eat?  Well according to some recent research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, eating more fruit and vegetables could actually prevent 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide!!

Eating just 2 ½ servings of fruits and vegetables reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke 13-18% AND reduced risk of early death by 15%.  This is good news!  BUT, the research found that eating about 10 servings of fruits and veggies had some astounding benefits…

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Health

When Pizza Speaks Louder Than Words

Homemade pizza is tradition in our home- one that is not going away anytime soon!  When my husband and I were newlyweds, we were also finishing degrees in school and the only time we had money to go out on a date was when someone gave us a gift card!  Those years we learned a lot of creative ways to make yummy food at home on our tight budget.  One of those foods was pizza.  My husband mastered the art of making herby whole wheat pizza dough!  The toppings were left to what was in the pantry, fridge and the depth of our imagination!

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Health

Prunes…GI Health Benefits and Beyond

Some foods don’t have a sexy name or an enticing appearance but such foods, like prunes, should not be underestimated for their tasty flavor and notable health benefits.  My 1 ½-year-old daughter frequently asks for them by name at snack time!  While they may have a reputation for helping people improve regularity, they have several other worthwhile benefits that may actually surprise you!

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