In a fast-paced world where convenience trumps (more time- and labor-intensive) healthy home cooking, the battle is on to protect your heart. The food choices you make can drastically affect your heart health, energy and appetite control. Keep your heart in tip-top shape with choices that are tasty, healthy and convenient for the entire family. From berries and nuts to fish and leafy greens, find out which foods are best for your heart.
Category: Sample Work
Navigating the Teen Years: Pressure, Patience and Prayer
I really thought my toughest years of parenting were when I had two in diapers at the same time. I was exhausted chasing two toddlers, but those smiles and kisses made it worthwhile. My son and daughter thought I hung the moon and they didn’t seem to mind when I danced around the living room and sang silly songs.
How to Reduce Stress in Your Life
It’s common to feel stress at times in your life, but when chronic stress takes over, it can lead to physical ailments and reduce the quality of your mental health. “Chronic stress is the base of the pyramid for so many physical illnesses, especially coronary artery disease,” says Dr. Andrew Shatte, Arizona-based psychologist and author of “The Resilience Factor.” “Un-stressed people are better able to dispel their negative feelings and find themselves feeling happier and more optimistic, which in turn has physical health benefits.” Safeguard your emotional and physical well-being with strategies to reduce stress in your life.
Don’t Get Stuck Inside Just Because the Weather is Cold
Although it may seem as if you are confined to the indoors when freezing temps force you to bundle up, cold weather can offer your family opportunities to get creative during winter. In fact, just because the temperature drops, it doesn’t mean your family activities have to stop. From sledding and snowball fights to nature walks and science experiments, cold weather can offer your family much more than red noses and chilly feet. Bundle up with coats, hats and gloves and set out on a family adventure that promotes bonding, activity and memories that will keep you warm.
Taking Time to Count All Our Blessings
Published January 2014: The Messenger - Faith: A Fresh Take Taking Time to Count All Our Blessings (Editor’s note: Maybe it’s January, but it’s always a good time to count our blessings. Here’s a column by a freelance writer and college instructor reminding us of what being grateful means.) When I was little, Christmas was… Continue reading Taking Time to Count All Our Blessings
From Presents to Philanthropy: Teaching the True Meaning of the Holidays
If it seems like the holidays are taken over by presents, wish lists and decorating, it’s time to get back to the basics: teaching your children the true meaning of the holidays. “While parents are focusing on this year round, the holidays are a major built-in opportunity for parents to help children develop character and values,” says Rachel Robertson, director of education and development at Bright Horizons Family Solutions. “Receiving gifts has no long-term impact on a child’s development, but contributing to others and learning about giving and selflessness does.”
19 Easy 100-Calorie Snacks
It happens. That midday craving or midnight hunger can cause you to reach for a quick snack that may end up skyrocketing your calorie count for the day. When your stomach rumbles, reach for one of these healthy 100-calorie snack options that are easy to prepare, pack and travel with.
10 Places to Look/Ask for Support
You have a new baby and there are plenty of things to do: caring for the baby, caring for yourself, trying to get back in shape. The trick is not going it alone. Many new moms are so overwhelmed with balancing the baby’s routine and family life that exercise and time to make healthy meals seems to fall to the bottom of the to-do list. It is possible to move post-baby body workouts and healthy meals to your can-do list with the right support. Check out these 10 suggestions from moms, fitness experts and nutritionists to get you back in those skinny jeans.
E-Cigarettes, Explained
For more than 50 years, Frank Sparks smoked traditional cigarettes. Sparks, now 64, said he was 62 when he knew it was time to quit. “I couldn’t run down the block without losing my breath,” Sparks said. Within three days of stumbling upon e-cigarettes, Sparks -- a former Navy SEAL and a resident of California -- stopped smoking traditional cigarettes and hasn’t sparked one up since.
Quick Snacks That Pack a Healthy Punch
When hunger attacks, it's tempting to pick up a sugary or fat-filled snack to get you through the day. Instead, opt for a quick snack that will give you energy, satisfy your taste buds and provide nutrients you need. "It may seem simple to stop at the drive-thru window on your way to or from work, but it's just as easy to grab something more health-supportive, too," says Diane Hoch, founder of the Food Evolution, a nutrition and cooking center in Nanuet, N.Y.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 