Sarah Dussault is an official brand advocate for Bel Brands in 2013. While she receives compensation for participation as a brand advocate, opinions are her own. Are you ready for the summer BBQ season to begin? Memorial Day is the unofficial kick off for summer BBQs, but don’t let it derail the healthy habits that [...]

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My kids are snack-o-holics! Both the 7 and 2 year old can’t get enough of snacking. I try to keep health-conscious options on hand, but I sometimes fear they are turning into pantry junkies! Instead of letting them grab a bag of chips or a granola bar, I’m trying to initiate at least a few [...]

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Written by Community Leader Tina Haupert Summer is right around the corner, and after a long, cold and snowy winter here in New England, I’m more than ready to enjoy it. I’m all about maintaining my healthy lifestyle without losing out on fun or good taste, so here are four ways I plan to live a [...]

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Written by Community Leader Katie Goodman We usually have a pretty low-key and relaxing Mother’s Day in our house. I get a free pass from all chores and get to sleep in without being disturbed. Waffles or pancakes with eggs and bacon are on the menu for breakfast – something that we all enjoy eating [...]

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The best exercises for women are simple, yet many ladies avoid them. If you think strength training will make you look bulky, you need to erase this notion from memory for good! The following moves are ideal in creating a strong and slim appearance for any female. The key to a continuous body transformation and [...]

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Written by Community Leader Tina Haupert If I’m not careful, Mexican food can be a diet disaster for me! I love cheesy queso dip and nachos piled high with all the fixings, but I know these foods aren’t the healthiest. I plan to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with lower-calorie, yet flavorful appetizers and snacks made with The [...]

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Is it just me or is everyone always on the run these days? Between my kids’ schedules, my schedule and my husband’s schedule, we are in a constant state of motion. It’s not a bad thing necessarily, but I do notice more stops at convenient marts and drive-thru windows for food. Instead of living off [...]

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Written by Community Leader Katie Goodman Last summer we were in the midst of an out-of-state move. We were so busy packing and unpacking at the beginning of the summer and then just adjusting to living somewhere new, that we didn’t make any formal summer plans. We spent a lot of time at our neighborhood [...]

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April is National Grilled Cheese Month, and I’m having fun celebrating with Mini Babybel! I can’t just make a “normal” grilled cheese. I like to have fun creating flavorful and satisfying sandwiches. This is my favorite grilled cheese idea to date! The tart apple and the salty bacon come together with the creamy yummy-ness of [...]

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Taking the stairs and parking your car farther away from an entrance are all ways to sneak a little more activity into your daily routine. When it comes to outings that involve the rest of the gang, a little fun is required to get them all on board for some extra exercise. Spending time outdoors [...]

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I am not a neat freak. In fact, I really don’t enjoy cleaning. I do, however, love how I feel once it’s done and my house is organized. Kind of like exercise – you never regret doing it! This spring, instead of looking at your seasonal chore as an obligation, make it your weekend workout [...]

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Spring is FINALLY here. The sun is shining through my window, I can hear birds chirping, and I didn’t need a jacket this morning! The best part of this exciting season: Fresh Produce! My local farmer markets are opening this month, and I’m looking forward to incorporating seasonal fruits and vegetables into my diet again. It’s not [...]

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Written by Community Leader Tina Haupert After a long, snowy winter, spring has finally sprung, and I’m all about taking my workouts outside! Recently, I’ve started to mix my running workouts with strength-building plyometrics for a total body workout. The combination of the two blast calories and builds muscle at the same time, which is a win-win [...]

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  While you might think January is the most popular month to join a gym, it’s actually March! People may set New Year’s resolutions to get in shape, but it can take a solid two months of procrastination and the looming bikini season to finally get the reluctant to follow through with their intentions. If [...]

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Spring is in the air, and it’s snack time! No more grabbing handfuls of M&Ms when you walk by your co-workers desk. No more vending machine stops on the way to the gym. It’s time to step up our snacking as we head into a new season. We need more snack joy and less junk [...]

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Written by: Community Leader Katie Goodman One of my healthy eating resolutions the past several months has been to lessen snack foods that are empty of nutrients. Our family doesn’t need to fill up between meals on foods that don’t provide any nutritional value. When Logan and Madeline don’t eat well at dinner because they [...]

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Have I told you how excited I was when The Laughing Cow came out with NEW Mini Babybel Mozzarella? Mozzarella is one of my absolute favorite cheeses because it’s found on one of my absolute favorite foods: Pizza! Now when I say pizza you may immediately think of a delivery guy dropping of a greasy, [...]

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Do you really need to eat something after a workout? The short answer is yes. By skipping a post-workout meal or snack, you’re not allowing your body to fully reap the benefits of the work you just did! Proper nutrition after a workout will speed up your results. While rapid weight loss is not recommended, [...]

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Written by Community Leader Katie Goodman The days keep slipping by. I can hardly believe that so much of the school year has already passed. Busy days make healthy, quick snacks all the more necessary – and it has to be something everyone in my family will love! From snack inspired lunches to after school [...]

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Written by: Community Leader Tina Haupert Being active with your friends and family is a great way to help all of you maintain a healthy lifestyle—and, of course, it’s a wonderful way to have fun and spend quality time together. If you’re looking for some ways to be active as a group, check out these [...]

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So it’s winter break, and you’re home. The kids are home. And everyone’s hungry! There’s only one problem, you’ve been getting your fill of holiday cookies and eggnog for days, no, weeks! Why not pull out a few simple ingredients and make a light, tasty, festive snack the kids can have fun helping prepare? What [...]

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This past fall while my husband and I were at a friend’s wedding, it was subtly suggested to us that we reinstate the “friend” Holiday get together at our house (we didn’t have one last year). I can’t even remember why we didn’t host one last year because the truth is that I love hosting [...]

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In the winter, waking up early to exercise can be miserable. It takes a great deal of willpower to avoid hitting the snooze button. It’s cold, still dark, and you can always just do it after work, right? I would advise you to get up and get it over with! I challenge you to try [...]

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Did you miss Community Leader and Registered Dietitian Patricia Bannan’s Eating Smart Around the Holidays Twitter Chat? We discussed smart strategies for staying on track, including pre-party preparation and the best selections from traditional holiday fare to add to your plate. Making smart choices can be difficult around the holidays, especially when all of your [...]

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This morning I decided to have fun with my standard breakfast of two eggs. I’ve learned after years of breakfast making that: 1.) Nothing beats a warm breakfast and 2.) Nothing fills me up like two eggs in the morning. Now, you may think you don’t have time to cook eggs during your busy morning [...]

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