Is Your Commute Making You Fat?
Your daily commute can say a lot about your approach to health. Do you drive a mile to work? Take the train two stops? Or worse, take the bus for one? Beyond what it says about your approach to health, how you handle your commute also reflects who you are as a person. Do you .. read more
Focus and Simplicity—A Mantra for Life
In 1976, a man founded a very successful company using the mantra: focus and simplicity. Today, about 50% of American households have an average of 1.6 of that company’s products. I’ll give you a hint—most of them start with a lowercase “i.” According to Apple’s founder Steve Jobs, “Simple can be harder than complex: You .. read more
On Your Mark…Get Ready for Race Season: A Q+A
My Facebook friends are posting race entry confirmations, my inbox is flooded with race invites, and friends and family keep asking, “What race are you running this year?” Racing season is finally here! All you runners, triathletes and cyclists know it is the time of year to commit to an event and begin the daunting .. read more
Are You Doing Your Part to Help Your Kids Be Active?
Are you actively involved as a parent? Do you know how to help your kids get the recommended amount of daily physical activity? Regardless of your political views, this statement from President Obama should draw your attention and support. “…One of the most important ways for us to control [healthcare] costs is to deal with .. read more
Work Out with Your Kids: We Take on the Top 5 Excuses
As we recently discussed, our kids aren’t getting enough exercise in school. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is trying to bring attention to kids’ fitness with programs like National Physical Education and Sport Week held annually May 1-7. So, how do you support your child’s fitness? The answer might vary based .. read more
Four Ways to Eat More Vegetables
According to the USDA’s MyPlate, and our Registered Dietitian, Catherine, fruits and veggies should be the major component of any meal. While I’ve always loved them, I recently realized that most of my personal plate is usually filled with protein. So, over the last few months, I’ve been trying to make fruits and veggies the .. read more
Love Your Teeth—Dental Health for the Heart
Did you know that there is a key health indicator right under your nose? Literally! How many of you brush and floss your teeth as recommended? How about making regular visits to the dentist? There are probably 101 things we would rather do than open our mouths and let someone take sharp tools and dig .. read more
Beyond Gym Class—Parents Need to Get Kids Moving
As the government and local policy makers do their political dances, we’re sad to say they are probably getting more physical activity than our kids. A recent report stated: Only 22 percent of public elementary school students go to a school that meets the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) standard of 150+ .. read more
Safe at Home: Violent Neighborhoods are Often Unhealthy Neighborhoods
A recent study by the American Heart Association found that if you live in a neighborhood with access to grocery stores, healthy food, parks and a pleasant walking environment, you’re more likely to be in ideal cardiovascular health. Looking around Chicago’s neighborhoods, I noticed a much bigger underlying factor that needs more attention: Safety. If .. read more
SoFAS, Empty Calories and Other Nutritional Mysteries
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Choose lean proteins. Limit intake of solid fats and added sugars. Nutrition is an evolving topic and, depending on what magazine you read, television icon you follow or website you skim, you can get a new tip daily. Do you ever wonder where these tips come from? Many originate from .. read more
