The end of summer is in sight, and before you know it, the start of school will be here! Snack time is important for busy kids, particularly those who stay after school for athletic or band practice. Instead of going to the vending machine or snack bar, try one of these easy and portable backpack snacks (courtesy of FoodInsight.org). #HealthyHabitsLoCo #kids #snacks

Author's Note: Today's blog is in honor of my kindness hero, "Nurse Nancy" Harmon. I went to see the documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor," which detailed the life and work of Fred Rogers. If you're over 40, you'll know him as the long-time star of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood on PBS. What I took away from the film is the power of kindness. On screen, (and in real life, according to the documentary) Mr. Rogers practiced kindness on a daily basis. Did you know that kindness can

Yesterday, a study hit the news that dietary fat, not sugar or carbs, is what causes weight gain and obesity. While this was a tightly controlled, randomized study, the subjects weren’t humans—they were mice. But that didn’t stop headlines like this: “Largest Study Of Its Kind Shows Eating Fat Is The Only Cause Of Weight Gain” from Tech Times, or “Study: Eating Fat Makes You Gain Weight” from Action News Jax. If you just read the headline, it all seems pretty certain, do

Summer is in full swing and salad is more fun with a plethora of fresh ingredients like greens and berries. Perhaps it is time to mix it up a bit. Do you always have salad topped with chicken? Try salmon, steak, canned tuna, hard-boiled egg or beans. Add seasonal fruit such as beets, avocados or berries. Spruce up your salad with different nuts/seeds or roasted beans. How about crunchy roasted chickpeas instead of croutons? Try flavorful cheeses such as feta, goat, par

Have you picked up a tasty meal from a food truck? You’re not alone. Food trucks are one of these fastest-growing parts of the restaurant industry, with estimates of between 4000-5000 nationwide in 2017. While they are trendy in college towns and on the coasts, we even see them here in Logan and surrounding counties. I enjoy the variety of cuisines available from our local food trucks, and the cost is often much lower than traditional restaurants, at around $10-15 per pers

Do you take a multivitamin? You're not alone. Between 33-50% of all Americans take them on a regular basis. They're big business, accounting for almost 6 billion dollars in sales every year. In fact, multivitamins comprise 40% of all sales of vitamin and mineral supplements and nearly 17% of all purchases of dietary supplements. But are they necessary to maintain good health? A study published this week adds to the increasing amount of research that finds no health benef

It just wouldn't be summer without the Logan County Fair Along with the displays, entertainment, and enthusiastic 4-H’ers, the fair features food (and a LOT of it)! From cotton candy to fried tenderloin, you don’t usually think health at the fair, but you don’t have to stay home! It IS possible to go and enjoy these treats without a heaping side of guilt. Join me in the MRH Entertainment Tent on Thursday, July 12th from 11 am-1 pm, and eat a rainbow of healthy and deliciou

It’s been hotter than hot this last week or two, and for me, at least, it’s made it difficult to get out and exercise as much as I usually do. How can you get your work out in and still beat the heat? Exercise Early or Late: While it’s often more humid in the early morning, you benefit from being less sunny. Not an early riser? Exercise late in the day after the sun has gone down, but be aware that exercising too close to bedtime can affect your sleep. If you do choose to