Category Archives: Tips, Tools & Techniques

Every month I glance over the “official” holidays, and it’s official: July is National Blueberry Month. Here are some great links to resources for cooking with blueberries. Blueberries are consistently ranked as a super-food – fruit packed with nutrition and disease fighting antioxidants. If you find a “you-pick” blueberry farm near you,  pick way more than you can consume fresh–blueberries freeze well. Wash them and let them drain dry. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and pour blueberries into … continued…

Barb Freda Healthy, Delicious Recipes Heart Healthy Summer Grilling Tips, Tools & Techniques

It’s that time of year. I never want the oven on. I am always too hot, but I don’t want to spend more money or make a bigger “carbon footprint” on the earth, so I won’t chill the air even more with the air conditioner. But we still have to eat. Here are five great ways to make it cooler. 1. Use the grill. For everything. I like to do steaks and baked potatoes on the grill (the potatoes take … continued…

Barb Freda Healthy Habits Summer Grilling Tips, Tools & Techniques

While many people think Core Exercises are just for flattening their tummy, they really are so much more than that.  (In fact, just doing core exercises is not enough to get that flat tummy… see that Fitness Myth busted in this post.)  Your core muscles (abdominal muscles and lower back muscles) are the main muscles that support your body to keep you sitting and standing throughout the day.  Having a strong core makes your daily activities less tiring because these … continued…

Main Photo
Fitness Healthy Habits Judy Eggebeen Tips, Tools & Techniques

Now that summer’s heating up, my herb garden is in full swing. Some herbs have already flowered and others are just starting to bloom. Many of my herbs have grown so big that it’s time for them to have a generous haircut; others just need to have a light trimming. My kids love to help me trim my herbs; after all there are so many great smells and tastes, it’s an irresistible task. We usually trim my herbs in the … continued…

Gardening Healthy Habits Healthy, Delicious Recipes Pam Freeman Tips, Tools & Techniques

Summer is here and the kids are out of school and looking for something to keep them occupied.  In today’s culture, it is easy for kids to sit and play video games, or to sit in front of the computer or tv to keep busy.  According to the Let’s Move! Campaign, www.letsmove.gov, the average child age 8-18 spends approximately 7.5 hours per day using these types of media.   As a result, children today are more inactive than ever before. Did … continued…

Fitness Healthy Habits Judy Eggebeen Tips, Tools & Techniques

Happy Father’s Day to our male readers! This post is a tribute to men’s health, to keep all of our father figures happy and healthy.  We’ve all heard people joke that men never want to ask for directions, and studies show that includes directions from healthcare providers.  Men are four times less likely to visit a healthcare provider than women, but unfortunately this isn’t because men are healthier.  It’s a well-known fact that women generally outlive men; this is in … continued…

Fitness Healthy Habits Heart Healthy Jenny Kramer, RD Tips, Tools & Techniques

Believe it or not, today we celebrate being a klutz in the kitchen — June 13 is Kitchen Klutzes of America Day! There seems to be a day for everyone, doesn’t there, though? Nonetheless, this one is near and dear to my heart, because although I am a culinary professional, I have had more than my share of kitchen mishaps, disasters and overall klutziness in the kitchen. In no particular order, here are some of my own disasters: 1. Email, … continued…

Barb Freda Healthy Habits Tips, Tools & Techniques

Yeah! The kids are out of school for the summer; this is my favorite time of year! It seems like we talked about things we wanted to do over this break forever. But once the last backpack was emptied and the lunch boxes were stowed away, it became evident that we needed a fun way to keep track of all our ideas. I’ve seen summer activity organization ideas in magazines and on Pinterest but never used a method before. So, … continued…

Entertaining Ideas Pam Freeman Tips, Tools & Techniques

I confess; I love herbs! There’s nothing I like better than to sit in my herb garden and smell all my wonderful plants. For me, herbs provide pleasure and practicality. I can use them in my kitchen, for crafting and to attract wildlife like hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. They’re not fussy and usually you can just plant them and let Mother Nature take care of the rest. It’s best to try … continued…

DIY Gardening Healthy Habits Pam Freeman Tips, Tools & Techniques

With summer approaching and warmer temperatures already here for many of us, it is important to be prepared for exercising in the heat.  Here are some tips to help you do that safely! Stay hydrated.  You should consume water (or a sports beverage depending on the intensity and length of your exercise session) before, during, and after exercise.  Dehydration is already starting by the time you get thirsty, so don’t wait on that to be your gauge! Choose moisture wicking … continued…

Beat the Heat - Main Photo
Fitness Healthy Habits Heart Healthy Judy Eggebeen Tips, Tools & Techniques