How to Manage Holiday Stress

Stress can be a powerful and often unnoticed force in your life. It can influence weight, mental health, quality of sleep, and have effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and the immune system. When chronic stress is present, a hormone called cortisol is released which increases glucose in the bloodstream. This increase in glucose is […]

Tracking Still Works

Tracking is once again a winner when it comes to helping us achieve and maintain a healthy weight.  Tracking has long been a key strategy included in most weight management programs, including the Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less and Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes programs.  Writing down everything that we are eating and […]

Make Smart Breakfast Choices

Eating a nutritious breakfast (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and a lean protein such as eggs) maintains blood sugar levels and sets the tone for a day of healthy eating. This also promotes weight maintenance and weight loss by maintaining blood glucose levels and your metabolism. Check out this handout from our colleagues at NC EFNEP […]

Winter Citrus Salad

This recipe comes from Med instead of Meds and is a fabulous salad for citrus lovers! The recipe was created by Chef Ellen Clevenger-Firley and is a wonderful way to enjoy fresh citrus any time of the year, including during its peak season – winter. Serves 4Serving Size: 2 cups (481 grams)Prep Time: 15-20 minutesTotal […]

How to Stay Active & Warm this Winter

Whether you are planning on exercising or socializing outdoors this winter we have some tips to help you stay warm! We want you to dress like an onion, and by that, we mean dress in layers. Here is a general guide for your “onion” layers: 1st Layer: You should wear wicking materials, made from a […]

Tabata Workout at Home

If you have searched for home workouts before, I’m sure you have run across HIIT workouts. HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training.  This is a way of varying your workout’s intensity over a relatively short amount of time to increase heart rate, breathing, and workload, all key to a good workout.   My favorite […]

Healthier Eggnog Recipe

Christmas is this Friday! For many families, eggnog is a timeless tradition during the holidays but it comes with a hefty amount of calories (around 180 calories for 4 ounces). For those who crave the flavor on a regular basis try out this recipe for a healthy eggnog smoothie: Recipe from NC EFNEP Ingredients ½ […]