Smart-size Your Portions

Both the amount and types of food we consume contribute to whether our way of eating is healthy. Check out this great handout from our colleagues at NC EFNEP with tips for how to smart-size your portions. A portion is what you serve yourself or what a restaurant gives you–you can also think of this […]

Crinkle-Cut Oven Fries with Japanese Sweet Potatoes

November is Sweet Potato Awareness Month. Sweet potatoes are a healthy source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. A fun fact, North Carolina has led the nation in sweet potato production for decades and produces about 60 percent of the country’s total sweet potato crop. My favorite type of sweet potato is Murasaki—or […]

A dog on a log in the woods

Hiking for My Mental and Physical Health

Happy Fall! I love this time of year because I enjoy one of my favorite activities, hiking, even more in the fall and winter than I do in the summer. Don’t get me wrong, summer hikes are still great, but in North Carolina, I have to go early or in the evening to avoid the […]

Black beans in a bowl

Perfect Black Lentils in the Instant Pot

Beluga lentils commonly referred to as black lentils, hold their shape better and have a firmer texture than green or red lentils when cooked. For this reason, I like to meal prep a batch and use them throughout the week in various ways. They are good as a side dish with a drizzle of olive […]

Pantry Staple Essentials

“A pantry is like a quiver of arrows, at your back and at the ready.” Abra Berens in her cookbook, Ruffage Pantry staples are more important than ever. For the past several months, I have only been going to the grocery store once a week, which has made me more mindful when planning my weekly shopping […]

Work from Home – Best Practices

By now, many of us have transitioned to working from home. This is a new experience for a lot of people and it can take some adjusting to find your work groove. When working from home, it’s easy for you to become your own worst enemy. Personally, I get the urge to procrastinate work work […]

A woman demonstrating lunges

9 Strength Training Exercises You Can Do at Home

I get a daily newsletter from the New York Times and shortly after January 1st I saw a section about strength training. I think their article is really nice because it has pictures and videos of how to do the exercises as well as modifications and challenges. I also really like their recommendations because this […]

How to Start Swimming: Tips for Beginners

One of the evidence-based strategies for diabetes prevention is achieving 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. I have recently decided to re-engage with an aerobic activity from my youth, swimming. Swimming is a great low-impact workout and I find it extremely meditative. I love the feeling of being immersed in cool water and the […]

A serving of the prepared recipe

Easy Side Item: Lemon Artichoke and Quinoa Salad

I stumbled across this great recipe for Lemony Artichoke & Quinoa Salad from budgetbytes. It is a refrigerator salad (i.e. doesn’t get limp or soggy) that works great as a side dish or as a light entrée. When I made this recipe I add some crumbled feta cheese (see picture), which I thought was a […]

Kale, eggs, mushrooms and oil ingredients

Need an easy healthy weeknight recipe? Try a veggie bowl!

I recently signed up for a produce subscription service called The Produce Box, which serves the Triad, the Triangle, Charlotte, the Piedmont, and the Coast of North Carolina. I will admit that I have previously been hesitant to sign up for one of these services because I’m always afraid I will end up wasting lots […]