The Magic of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been buzzing in the news lately, people have been flocking to their local health food store to get some, and it is now known as a "superfood".  So, is coconut oil worth buying, or is it just another diet fad that will soon die out? 

Savvy Food Swaps

Adopting a healthier diet does not have to be difficult. And of course the ultimate question is, where do I start?  The best way to start is with a few simple changes, sticking to them, and then adding more over time. This leads to lasting behavior change and healthy eating becomes a lifestyle, not a quick diet.

Orange You Glad it's Winter?

Following a balanced diet focused on a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, high-fiber foods, and healthy fats is a good way to ensure that you are meeting all of your vitamin and mineral requirements and may help reduce your risk of disease and reduce your LDL "bad" cholesterol. Vitamin and mineral supplements have been marketed in recent years as a "fun and easy" way to meet your daily requirements, coming in gummy form with many shapes and flavors. However, they are called supplements for a reason and really only need to be used when medically necessary. With the winter season in full swing, these vitamins and minerals are especially important.

Digest This!

Probiotic products have become increasingly popular in recent years and are considered to be a "trendy" food item by many foodies. Probiotics contain live bacteria that are good for your health, especially your digestive and immune systems. They work by balancing the "good" and "bad" bacteria in your gut. The "good" probiotic bacteria help improve digestion and absorption of food as well as help defend against harmful "bad" bacteria.  Probiotics are considered safe to eat and have minor, if any, side effects. Today, there are a wide variety of probiotic products available on the market for consumers to choose from.

Fall Favorites- Revamped!

Fall is coming, and so are autumn favorite dishes - cookies, pies, casseroles, and stews. While these traditional foods are festive and delicious, they can also be full of calories, fat, and sugar. Also, with more and more food allergies and intolerances present among friends and family, many traditional recipes cannot be eaten by everyone. By revamping your fall favorites, you can still indulge in all of the fall flavors without the worry or guilt! 

Drink Away the Pounds!

Think about this, if you substitute a bottle of water for a sugary drink, you are cutting out on average 130 calories from your daily calorie consumption. Now, think about this healthy habit in the grand scheme of things.

130 calories a day—910 calories a week—3,900 a month = 47,450 a year, which is equivalent to 13 pounds a year.

Healthy Meetings at EduKids Inc.

"We believe the IH Healthy Meeting Policy is a way to keep smart choices top of mind when planning a meeting, training, conference or event.  When meetings can get bogged down with cookies, donuts and other sugary treats, it's easy to get trapped when those goodies are in front of you.  As an employer, eliminate those options and only use them for special occasions!  We see how valuable it is for employees to experience the support from members of management. We're focused on promoting healthy eating habits from within our organization." - Jennifer Hasse, PHR, Director of Human Resources & Recruitment and Wellness Team Lead, EduKids, Inc. 

How Having a Baby Changed the Way I Eat

 Having a kid changes everything- in so many ways.     

I expected the lack of sleep, new schedules, and less free time.  I expected to love watching this little baby grow into a toddler and begin to eat us out of house and home.

I didn't expect that bringing a baby into our house would actually end up changing how the rest of the family eats- for the better.    

Hold the Bun and More Lettuce, Please!!

It's time to ditch the traditional hotdog and hamburger buns and get your lettuce wrap game on! What better way to eliminate the calories but with these wraps that are healthy, delicious and equally fun to make.

Beat the Summer Bloat with this Healthy Note

With summer quickly approaching, only thing is for sure, lots of fun in the sun and tons of eating. My favorite thing about the summer months is being able to host summer gatherings with family and friends and let's face it, what would be a party without food!!

It's so easy to get wrapped up in all the sugary and salty goodness, which often times lead to bloating and we all know that is no fun. Here is the great news; there are many healthy and yummy alternatives to meet all your summer hostessing needs.

A Balanced Salad

 A salad can be one of the healthiest choices you make today, unless of course you drown it in ranch dressing or cheese... or maybe both. There are four necessary ingredients to make a perfect salad that will satisfy most of your daily nutritional needs: greens, grains, proteins, and vegetables or fruits.

Lettuce Turnip the Beet

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It has become a way for people to buy a "share" of a farmers crop containing local, fresh, seasonal produce. Generally, the crop shares contain vegetables, and some farms include fruits, eggs, meats, or even homemade products. It all depends on the farm that you decide to receive shares from. Customers can purchase a membership for a CSA crop share at particular farms and in return, each week, they will receive a bag of a variety of freshly grown produce.

Study Snacking Do's and Don'ts

As a college student, I can attest to the fact that snacking sometimes has a way of diverting from healthy habits.  When I'm busy studying for an exam, or working on a big essay, I find myself half deep into a bag of potato chips. Snacking in college is inevitable, but I have found some alternatives to overindulging on unhealthy foods. 

Healthy Vending Comes to the Buffalo Public Schools

As a parent of 2 kids, ages 7 and 12, I've always felt that I owed it to my girls to teach them about the importance of exercise and proper nutrition. That's not to say they don't partake in the occasional indulgence like a trip to the ice cream store or popcorn at the movies, but we try to maintain a balance.  

Ideas to Have an EGGS-tra Special Easter!

There are only a few short days away till Easter! What are the two common components that are always present during this holiday? Easter eggs and Easter candy! Everyone knows that this day calls for endless amounts of candies and consuming large quantities of food throughout the day. It is easy to find yourself losing control and over-consuming all these delicious treats. 

Prep for Success

I'm sure that many of you have heard of doing "meal prep" before, but either you don't know why it could be helpful to you, or maybe it seems too daunting to try! I'm going to share with you some insight on how meal prep is practical and can help you stick to healthy eating habits (and a budget!), as well as easy ways to begin incorporating it into your weekly routine!

Featured Health and Wellness Stories!

Here are the top three submissions from our Share Your Health and Wellness Story contest! Read more to hear about these amazing journey's!

Carrie's Health and Wellness Story

 Two years ago, my life was completely different. An extreme day consisted of Tim Horton's for breakfast, Taco Bell for lunch and pizza for dinner. I'm not afraid to admit that my personal eating habits were a free-for-all and some days there was no stopping. I'm also not afraid to tell you that I love food. However, I wasn't conscious of my consumption nor was I particularly motivated enough to make a change. That was the problem. Since I was a child, both my grandmother and mother struggled to maintain their weight. Ultimately they both had passed away due to complications of their obesity. Obesity had consumed their life, and I saw myself continuing down a path very similar to theirs.

Guilt Free Gameday

 Hosting a Super Bowl party is fun- unless you're worried about how you're going to maintain your healthy habits while satisfying a group of hungry sports fans. Check out my list of suggestions for healthy party snacks. I bet your guests won't even notice they're at a healthy Super Bowl party.

What's Your 2015 Resolution?

So you want to get fit and stay healthy this year. And this year you mean- for real this time. If you're like a lot of people, you start by making a New Year's resolution to lose weight. This year, I propose we all avoid that tired cliché of a resolution and instead, resolve to make 2015 a year of small changes that will lead to long lasting health and wellness.