Well Being Magazine

ChooseMyPlate.gov A great new way to a healthy heart

By Rebecca Turner, MS, RD, CSSD, LD Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) retired the familiar MyPyramid American food guide and replaced it with a new icon, MyPlate. The plate, a much more common sense and helpful visual than the pyramid, is divided into four sections of similar size, two of which are filled with vegetables and fruits, the third section contains grains, while the fourth is for protein. Beside Read more »

Slow-cooking for the fast-paced family

By Rebecca Turner, MS, RD, CSSD, LD More than a decade of research proves that spending time gathered at the kitchen table is a valuable way to strengthen family bonds. Research shows that children who eat family meals get more fruits and vegetables and less saturated fat. They also weigh less. Furthermore, the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use Read more »

Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

by Victoria Locke If your parents directed you to “go play outside in the fresh air and sunshine, and soak up some vitamin D,” they were indeed giving you wise advice. We humans need ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure (with a UV index of 3 or greater), at least twice a week (on the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen) to absorb enough vitamin D from the sun Read more »