LiveWell Vermont

Have you heard of my friend the switch witch? She’s a GOOD witch that visits your house while your kids sleep. She takes their Halloween candy and switches it for an awesome toy. The Switch Witch lives on the dark side of the moon. And she LOVES candy. Of course, ALL witches loves candy, but none as much as her. She LOVES candy SO much that she’s eager to trade AMAZING toys to little boys and girls in exchange for their candy stash. Of course, the boys and girls can keep a LITTLE candy for themselves, but the more they give the Switch Witch, the better their toy will be. She eats the boys and girls’ candy over the course of the year. As just as she runs out, it’s Halloween again – time for another visit from the Switch Witch. Encourage your little ones to leave some of their candy for the Switch Witch!

The final trimester of Wellness: Your Way ends on November 1st. That is exactly 1 week from today. Make sure you earn all your points prior to the cut off because there are no extensions. Need more information? Check out our Wellness Page. If you have questions please email us at DHR.LiveWellVermont@Vermont.gov or call us at 802-828-7308  before November 1st.

Fall is the perfect excuse to utilize your creative energy! There are so many cute "Fall Inspired" crafts. Use this time as a mental escape from a hectic schedule or host a "Craft Club" and make an event out of it! Nourishing your inner spark is a mental act as much as it is an emotional and spiritual one, offering up the opportunity for you to honor, expand and be in the flow of your creative gift moment to moment! DIY FALLING LEAVES GARLAND You’ll need a bag of artificial leaves, which you can purchase from the Dollar Tree or any craft store. Next use a paintbrush to apply Elmer’s glue to each leaf and then sprinkle glitter over the leaf. Let the glue set and then shake off the excess glitter. Next punch a hole at the top of each leaf and attach a ribbon that you can tie to a large ribbon strand. These leaves are so shimmery and will add a festive sparkle to your home for the upcoming months. It would also be a great project to do wit...

Not many places can beat the atmosphere of Vermont in the Fall!! Who doesn't love apple picking, crisp mornings and the fabulous foliage?? It is also a great time to incorporate pumpkin into EVERYTHING!  Pumpkins’ orange color is a big hint that they’re loaded with the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is one of the plant carotenoids converted to Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is essential for healthy, glowing skin, strong eyesight, and our immune system. 1 cup of pumpkin delivers around 550 mg of potassium, making it one of the highest sources among fruits and vegetables (bananas bring in about 420 mg, and sweet potatoes bring in about 475 mg). This makes it an excellent addition to your post workout snack to replenish your stores! The following portable recipes provide a deliciously healthy way to add more pumpkin to your day! Pumpkin Banana Bread: yields 12-16 slices 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp each: cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin pi...

Fall is a great time for grilling and making BBQ! What goes better with BBQ than homemade slaw? NOTHING! Check out this low cal recipe! GREEK COLESLAW INGREDIENTS     1 (10oz.) bag shredded cabbage     1 cup shredded carrots     1/2 cup green onions, sliced     2/3 cups non-fat plain Greek yogurt     1 tbsp lemon juice     2 tbsp apple cider vinegar     2 tbsp honey, warmed     1 tsp Dijon mustard     1/4 tsp celery salt DIRECTIONS Combine the cabbage, carrot and green onions in a large bowl, and toss to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, mustard and celery salt. Taste, and season with extra salt and pepper if needed. Pour the Greek yogurt mixture into the cabbage mixture, and toss until evenly combined. Serves 4-6. Serve immediately, or cover ...

When we pack our diet with vibrant foods loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, water, and essential nutrients, our body will show its appreciation through its largest organ: our skin. After all, the skin is often the first part of our body to show internal trouble, and there’s only so much that lotions, creams, masks, and serums can do before we need to take a closer look at what’s fueling us. In fact, studies show that eating fruits and veggies is the safest and healthiest way to combat dull complexions and fine lines. Ready to glow? Try these 5 antioxidant powerhouses to give your skin a glow from within! Red Bell Peppers Red bell peppers are loaded with antioxidants which combat the effects of aging!. In addition to their high content of vitamin C — which is good for collagen production — red bell peppers contain powerful antioxidants called carotenoids. Carotenoids are plant pigments responsible for the bright red, yellow, and orange colors you see in many f...

Eating perfect isn’t always possible. After all, we’ve all dipped into the chips or had pizza at a party. But when we fill up regularly on more quality foods, we can look better,  feel healthier and have a lot more energy! So what are empty calories? Just think of those packaged or processed items that don’t need preparation, like cookies or chips or sugary drinks. They have zero nutritional value and typically contain quite a few calories, sugar and fat. What they lack: the good stuff, like protein, fiber and vitamins. You never want to completely eliminate any food you enjoy from your diet. The opposite of elimination is binging, which is typically worse than a small splurge. The 80/20 rule is the theory that if you eat a healthy, balanced diet 80% of the time, the other 20% there is room for an occasional treat. An occasional treat is not an excuse to debunk your entire healthy efforts. Think more along the lines of a small burger with a side salad, a grille...

Fall is finally here! As we settle into these cooler temperatures and richly colored falling leaves, it's a perfect time to enjoy diffusing and blending with warming essential oils like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and clove.  Try one of these simple diffusion blends to enhance all of your Fall Festivities!

Breast cancer … it’s a scary thought and all too many women assume that it won’t happen to them. Fact is though, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life. Breast cancer does not discriminate! So, be proactive during breast cancer awareness month 2018 go for a medical checkup, it might save your life. Breast Cancer FAQs: Can physical activity reduce the risk of breast cancer? Exercise boosts the immune system and helps you to keep your weight in check. With as little as three hours of exercise per week, or about 30 minutes a day, a woman can begin to lower her risk of breast cancer. This doesn’t require going to a gym either. Power walking is more than sufficient Can a healthy diet help to prevent breast cancer? A nutritious, low-fat diet (30 grams or less) with plenty of fruits and green and orange vegetables can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A high-fat diet increases the risk because fat triggers estrogen...