Dietary Fiber Intake

The North Carolina Office of State Human Resources offers wellness webinars as a benefit to employees. You do not need to be a state employee to view the webinars as the link to the most recent recording is available on their website, and past recordings are available on their YouTube playlist. I recently watched a […]

Embracing Wellness this Spring Season

April marks the onset of spring and two important observances dedicated to our overall well-being: National Move More Month and National Stress Awareness Month. These annual reminders allow individuals to prioritize their physical and mental health through mindful practices. National Move More Month serves as a timely reminder for individuals to incorporate physical activity into […]

Tips for Snacking on Vegetables

One of my favorite afternoon snacks is baby carrots and cucumber slices. I would buy a bag of baby carrots and an English cucumber and package them into single-serving snack bags. This prepping strategy worked well unless I forgot, or was too lazy, to create the snack packs then the vegetables would linger in my […]

Taking Care of You

Sometimes it feels like we are constantly running in a hundred different directions. With so many things demanding your time and attention, it can be overwhelming. This is why it is essential to take a step back and make time for yourself. Check-in, see how you are feeling, and set aside time for some self-care. […]

Meal Prep 101

Save time by preparing meals all at once for the week–even if you are working from home. Batch prepping and batch cooking can save you time and money, ensure leftovers don’t go to waste, and keep you stay in control of portions andingredients. Determining your time availability and needs each week will help you decide […]

Reducing Food Waste – Expiration Dates

At one point or another, we have all debated eating or throwing away a food product after the date on its label has passed. But do we need to throw away food as soon as the date on the label arrives? Oftentimes you will see the phrases “Best if used by,” “Sell by” and “Use […]

Funny eggs with different mood faces on a yellow background.

Food and Mood…How do they connect?

Have you ever thought about how the food that we eat can affect our mental health, either positively or negatively?  There has been a lot of research done recently on the connection between food and mood.  As a matter of fact, the Food and Mood project led by several large government agencies is an effort […]

Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout refers to a state of complete exhaustion–physical and mental–and may occur when caregiver stress is left unchecked. Signs of caregiver burnout may include constant fatigue, more frequent sickness, and disregard for personal needs.1 Compassion fatigue, or the stress resulting from taking on the pain of the person being cared for, can also contribute […]

Overcome Sugar Cravings

There are different reasons we may crave sugar. If we are eating sugar regularly, our bodies expect and, in turn, desire it. When we eat sugar, our brain releases dopamine, the pleasure hormone, making it more likely for us to want more sugar at that moment and later on. Our blood sugar levels also rise […]

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Having Fun is Good for You!

Who doesn’t like having fun? While everyone may have individual preferences as to what constitutes having fun, research makes one thing clear: having fun is highly beneficial to our physical, mental, and emotional health. Studies have shown how having fun can reduce stress, improve sleep, increase serotonin and endorphins, and keep us moving more, among […]