In a 2008 survey by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), the average American reported sleeping an average of six hours and forty minutes on most days.  This is about two hours less than the average reported fifty years ago and about an hour less than what is currently recommended.  Why is this a concern?  Too little sleep or poor quality sleep is a risk factor for being overweight and obese, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Sleep, slumber, snooze, siesta, forty winks—no matter what you call it, it’s a major component of health and wellness.  Are you getting enough sleep?

Not all meats are created equal, and often we choose to avoid answering questions like; “What exactly is in those chicken nuggets I had for lunch?” The problem in not answering these types of questions is that these so called “mystery meats” have multiple ingredients that have been linked to chronic diseases such as heart disease and certain cancers.  It’s time to have those often unasked questions answered, and learn tools to make healthy swaps from “mystery” to “clean” meats.

Today’s reality is that most of us are busy and on the go often. Between work, school, family activities and life in general, things can get overwhelming. This is where a crockpot (also called a slow cooker) can help ease meal planning and save you time and money. Typically using a crockpot involves quick prep followed by a slow cooking time. This can result in a simple, healthy, and delicious meal that’s waiting on you as soon as you walk in the door from your busy day. With a crockpot there is a wide variety of foods that you can prepare including soups, stews and casseroles.

“Whole Grain” is a big buzz word in the nutrition world, and rightly so. Eating enough whole grains can help reduce your risk of stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. However, when it comes to grains, you may not know what to look for and what to avoid in order to make heart healthy choices. 

Yoga comes from a Sanskrit word often interpreted as “union.”  While it involves eight “limbs” or aspects, most people practicing today are engaged mainly in the physical practice of postures which act to provide physical strength and stamina required for meditation.  But, within this physical practice, yoga is unique in connecting movement and activity of the mind to the rhythm of the breath to direct attention inward.  The body becomes more flexible as does the mind. 

Looking to try yoga but unsure where to begin?  No special flexibility or ability is required as there are so many types and levels of yoga available.  I’ve outlined some of the more common types you may encounter so you can choose the type you may want to pursue. Do not be afraid to speak to the yoga studio ahead of time to find a level and style of class that works best for you.

It seems like every day more and more nut butters are filling up the grocery store shelves, and selecting the healthiest option can be quite confusing. Compared to many other convenient foods, most nut butters are nutritious. Although some are better than others, all nut butters range from good to excellent sources of healthy fats, protein, fiber, copper, magnesium, chromium, manganese, zinc, some B vitamins, some fat soluble vitamins, and phytochemicals. In fact, eating 1-2 tablespoons of nut butter at least four times per week may lower your risk of coronary heart disease by 35% according to a pooled analysis of four U.S. epidemiological studies.¹

Here’s my personal criteria that you can follow to choose the best nut butters on the market and reduce your risk for heart disease.

As parents, we want our kids to be happy and healthy. At times, that may mean we put our own health on the backburner. But, it is important to remember that you are the biggest influence in your child’s life. When you make smart choices about food, exercise, and stress management, you set a great example. Start with these simple family health tips to set goals you and your family can enjoy reaching together.

Hi Everyone!  Welcome back to In the Kitchen with Caitlin, a blog series where I feature some lesser known ingredients and highlight ways to use them in delicious and healthy recipes. Today, I am going to show you how to make two delicious snack recipes that use the same ingredient in two very different ways. The featured ingredient is the garbanzo bean. You may already be familiar with garbanzo beans, but perhaps you aren’t aware of the many different ways you could use them. 

Not so long ago, you would not have been able to find items such as tofu, veggie burgers or plant-based milks on supermarket shelves. With a move toward plant-based eating, these products are now widely available. Why the shift? A growing body of research supporting the replacement of animal proteins with plant-based options for health has fueled this change.  Plant-based diets have been linked to lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.¹ In addition, food sustainability benefits have also been well documented.²  

Thinking of becoming a vegetarian? October is Vegetarian Awareness month and a good time to learn about what it takes to become vegetarian and why you might want to consider it. Read on to learn about various levels of vegetarian diets, the benefits of going meatless and ways to ease into eating vegetarian.