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Energy Balls
There is a point in everyone’s life where they need an easy source of nutrient-dense/energy-dense foods. We get busy, we get tired and all we want is a nutritious grab-and-go option. Energy balls, or sometimes called “power balls,” are a great option. Using shelf stable ingredients, these snacks can sit out at room temp, they’re small and portable, and they provide an opportunity for you to pack in the nutrition. These are great for after a workout, busy on-the-go days, breastfeeding, road trips and more.
This recipe is highly customizable. The base is simply four ingredients, 1 ½ cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of nut butter of choice* (peanut butter is a common choice, but other good options could include almond butter, cashew butter or sun butter), ¼ cup flax meal and ¼ cup of honey. To this you add an addition ½ -1 cup of additional ingredients. Nuts, seeds, dried fruit, protein powders, psyllium husk, shredded coconut, almond flour, matcha, cocoa, dried herbs and spices, and candy chips are all good ingredients you can try. —Dana Mealing, RDN, LDN, community nutrition educator, Tevis Center for Wellness
The Importance of Advance Care Planning
If you were incapacitated or seriously ill, do you know what lifesaving measures you would want or who would make that decision on your behalf? If you answered no, then it’s important to plan for your future healthcare decisions today.
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, an estimated 1.1 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease in the United States and more than 10 million people worldwide. Each year, about 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.
National Nutrition Month: Food Connects Us
There has never been a time in human history where food wasn’t a medium that connected us to our environments and communities. It is through food that we not only nourish our physical bodies, but also our relationship with family and friends, culture, history, economy, policy, agriculture and more.
National Nutrition Month invites us all to take the time to find out how food connects us in our daily lives.
New Year’s Resolutions: Be Kind to Yourself
Holiday indulgences, in one form or another, cause many of us to set out to control ourselves as we start the new year. We look ahead into the new year and resolve to improve our health, well-being, finances, relationships and more.
Then, we don’t do it.
Holiday Date Roll
Looking for a holiday treat to snack on that’s not cookies? Here it is: a whole food-based sweet that is full of fiber, healthy fats and flavor. The variety of nuts in this recipe provide an array of heart-healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat. Roasting the nuts will bring out their warm toasty taste, and with the natural caramel-like flavor of dates and a hint of cardamom, these treats are sure to satisfy a sweet tooth while providing your body with rich nutrition. You can also roll the “dough” into balls, and coat in a blend of cocoa powder and cinnamon for a more truffle-like treat. —Dana Mealing, RDN, LDN, community nutrition educator, Tevis Center for Wellness
Butternut Chicken Stew
This is the perfect meal to warm up this season. Winter squash of any kind—butternut, acorn, kabocha, delicata—is a great complex carbohydrate to include in our diet. For one cup of butternut squash, you get about 3g of fiber, 16g of carbs and a great source of vitamin A and vitamin C at 63 calories. That’s a lot of nutrition for that much energy! Winter squash is also lower carb than potatoes for the same serving size, but it has a similar texture, making it a great choice for those who are watching their blood sugar. —Dana Mealing, RDN, LDN, community nutrition educator, Tevis Center for Wellness
Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Diabetes is a nationwide epidemic, affecting an estimated 11.6% of the U.S. population. Here in Carroll County, diabetes was identified as the number two health concern on the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment.
Social Determinants of Health
Did you ever consider the many factors that affect your health? Things like access to food, transportation, housing and even where you were born can play a significant role in how healthy you are. They are called “social determinants of health.”
Move More, Feel Better This Physical Fitness Month
May is Physical Fitness Month, and it’s a great time to revisit your exercise routine and think about how you can incorporate more activity into your life.