4 Healthy-ish Fair Food Alternatives

COVID-19 has caused some of our favorite events to be either placed on hold or canceled completely. The NC State Fair is a longstanding North Carolina tradition that has been canceled this year for the first time since 1945.  Some people will miss the rides and the exhibits, but many people visit the fair just […]

The Basics and How-To of Vegetarianism

What’s up with vegetarianism? This year, vegetarian awareness week will mark me being vegetarian for 6 years. There are many reasons that people decide to stop eating meat – for me it was to lower my environmental footprint. For others, it can be a religious or cultural practice, a strategy to lower their grocery budget, […]

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 […]

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Mindfulness Day 2020

September 12th is Mindfulness Day. Mindfulness is a key component of the Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less and Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes programs. Take a moment today or this week to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is simply defined as being present in any particular moment. To go deeper, it involves being conscious and […]

Easy Acorn Squash Breakfast or Dinner: Egg-in-the-hole

This recipe is a go-to when I have an acorn squash and am looking for something easy to put together. It is filling and delicious! I generally make it for dinner but it would be great for a weekend breakfast too. If this is the only thing I made, I’ll eat two eggs-in-holes, but generally, […]

Stretch the Stress Away

I do not know about you, but I constantly find myself physically or mentally on the go all day long; thinking about the next project, and how I can get two things done at once. I have always found traditional yoga classes extremely relaxing and so worth the hour session, but my most stressful days […]

Build Your Own Healthy Trail Mix – #NationalTrailMixDay

Hikers, campers, and outdoor lovers have a day to celebrate on August 31st, National Trail Mix Day. Journalist and author Joan Lunden once wrote: “It is not always as comfortable blazing the trail as it is walking on it.” And yet, munching on a ready-to-eat trail mix when the walk gets tough can be lightening. […]

morning exercise

Stress Relief and Mental Health Strategies

Back to school season can be stressful in a normal year, but with COVID-19 and switching to virtual or hybrid schooling plans this year is bringing extra challenges. In our programs, we discuss the importance of mindfulness and managing stress as strategies to reach our health goals. Here are a few strategies that may help […]

National Waffle Day: Banana Oat Waffles

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and what better way to celebrate than National Waffle Day. #NationalWaffleDay falls on Monday, August 24th, and celebrates the anniversary of the very first waffle iron patent issued.  For you to celebrate, we share a favorite banana oat waffle recipe. Oats contain beta-glucan fiber, which helps […]

National Potato Day

August 19th is National Potato Day and I could not be more excited. I love potatoes! They come in so many different sizes, colors, and shapes. You can cook and bake them in so many ways. I taught ESL classes in Washington, DC and I found that almost every culture has some version of a […]