LiveWell Vermont

We're starting to hear this sentiment more often: Loneliness is the new smoking.  Feeling lonely has been connected to increased health risks, like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, cognitive function, depression and anxiety, and suicide and self-harm.  Loneliness has been been found to increase one's risk of heart disease the same amount as smoking 15 cigarettes per day! A new report released by the Surgeon General called   " Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation"   brings national attention to this latest public health crisis. But it's not all doom and gloom! The report also talks about how Americans can maximize the "healing effects of social connection and community." If we want to feel more connected to our communities but aren't sure how to start, here are a few suggestions:  1. Volunteer     Making yourself available to those in need can help you understand how important you are to society.  When you devote y...

And just LOOK at that gorgeous color! You might see delicious babies these at your favorite taco stand, but we've yet to find them at the grocery store. Fortunately, they're easy to make, one recipe makes a ton, and they last a long time in the fridge. Imagine this scenario: It's almost dinnertime. You haven't been to the grocery store in a while, but you have a few things left you need to use up, but gosh are they boring. You hear the sweet sirens of takeout calling your name... What happens next? Do you:  A) Make what you have at home, even if you don't really want it? or B) Order takeout, baby!!!! If you have a crunchy, punchy jar of pickled onions around, it can make option A) THAT much more appealing! Pickled red onions are an awesome way to elevate a boring dinner to something you're excited to eat.  They're great to jazz up sandwiches, rice & beans, scrambled eggs, tacos, salads, or even just on top of roasted veggies!  Nutrition: While the recipe...

Summertime in Vermont... ahhh, a magical time of green and blue: paddles on the lake, hikes in the green mountains, creemees, feeling the sun on your skin, swimming holes- the list goes on and on! Since we live in a place with long and dark winters, the pressure is ON to make summer the ultimate time of FUN. However, all these high expectations can sometimes backfire, leading to negative feelings and low mood. At this point in the summer (autumn begins in 3 days!), these feelings may boil to a head, and you may feel disappointed that you didn't fit in ALL of the activities you thought you would. You might think along the lines of, "everyone else had a great summer, but during mine I didn't get to _______." Especially after a summer like this year, with a muddy natural disaster, smoky air quality, and record-breaking heat sweeping the country, you might not be waving goodbye to Summer '23 with stars in your eyes.  Here are a few strategies to reclaim the last bits ...

Looking for a way to increase your protein at breakfast? Want a comforting, fast lunch you can make in minutes on your WFH days? Need a fast, last minute dinner when grocery supplies are dwindling? Breakfast Tacos to the rescue, any time of day! If you can scare up eggs, cheese, a can of beans, whole wheat tortillas, and a jar of salsa, you've got it maaaaaade. Bonus points if there are leftover or frozen veggies hanging around- pretty much any type works!  Each taco has 15-20 grams of protein, depending on what you put in them. If you're hungry, you probably will want to eat 2 of these for dinner!  The taco in this post has about 17 grams of protein: 1 egg = 6 grams protein ~2 tbsp black beans  is ~2 g protein 1 whole-wheat tortilla = 5 g protein  ~1/2 oz cheddar cheese is ~4 g protein This taco also has tomatoes, guacamole, pickled red onions, and fresh summer corn cut off the cob.  You may also enjoy them with salsa (the most important ingredient, in my opini...

Does a chocolate milkshake ever NOT sound like a good idea? This chocolate shake (no milk included) is a DELIGHTFUL option! This one is protein packed and not too sweet so will hit the spot without the crash!! Plus, you can fit a little bit of a caffeine boost in there if you're that type of person. Hint #1: Freeze Bananas as They Come to You Whenever you have bananas getting too spotty on your counter, peel them (when they're barely too ripe to eat but not ripe enough for banana bread) and stick them in an airtight container (ziplock bag or air sealed food storage container) and put them in the freezer for later! Hint #2: Coffee Ice Cubes Brew and cool and little extra coffee in the morning, and then freeze it in an ice cube tray! Or, if you're out and about, order your iced coffee in one size larger- be careful you don't drink too much- and then freeze the remainder (it's ok if it has cream) in ice cube trays.  Ingredients 1 1/2 frozen bananas 1-2 tbsp natural pea...

  Fall can feel like a new beginning or the start of a busy season. If you've got kids going back to school, are starting classes yourself, or if projects at work seem to pick up when summertime comes to a close, fall can feel like a transition period. This makes fall a great time to check in with yourself to establish (or refresh!) routines that serve you during busy seasons.  So how do we capitalize on this opportunity? How do we support ourselves and our families, and get everything done? Try establishing a POWER HOUR. Set aside one hour each day (or just a few days a week!) and dedicate the time to completing important tasks with the most focus and efficiency you can muster. The first step is figuring out WHEN to schedule it. Pick a time when you are feeling awake and productive.  Pick a time that you know you have good energy during the day Pick a time when other responsibilities won't infringe. Pick a time when you're less susceptible to distractions.  Exa...

Fall can feel like a new beginning or the start of a busy season. If you've got kids going back to school, If you're starting classes in the fall semester, or even if projects at work seem to pick up when summertime comes to a close, Fall seems like a transition period.  This makes fall a great time to check in with yourself to establish (or refresh!) routines that serve you during busy seasons.  So how do we capitalize on this fresh start? How do we support ourselves and our families, AND get everything done? Try establishing a POWER HOUR. Set aside one hour each day (or just a few days a week!) and dedicate the time to completing important tasks with the most focus and efficiency you can muster. The first step is figuring out WHEN to schedule it. Pick a time when you are feeling awake and productive.  Pick a time that you know you have good energy during the day Pick a time when other responsibilities won't infringe. Pick a time when you're less susceptible to distrac...

 PERMA is a model of wellbeing developed by Professor Martin Seligman, one of the founders of the field of Positive Psychology.  It's a helpful starting place. PERMA gives us some areas to focus on that will help us to flourish in life.  P-  Positive Emotion WHAT: Intentionally choosing positivity in our everyday life  HOW: Keep a gratitude journal or reflect on gratitude over the dinner table.  E- Engagement WHAT: Being truly present in each moment of your life HOW: Figure out what you enjoy doing. How often do you get so engrossed in what you're doing that you lose track of time?  What lights you up? Then, do more of it! R- Relationships WHAT: Positive and beneficial connections with other humans HOW: Practice (and get really good at!) active listening. Put aside distractions when spending time with others and focus on being present. M- Meaning WHAT: Having a strong purpose in life  HOW: Think about makes you get up in the morning. A- Accom...

It's objectively true: fruits and veggies just taste better in the summertime. The sooner it can travel from the vine to your mouth, the fresher, more flavorful, and crunchier/juicier it is! Hey, fresh produce even has more nutrients packed in!  Whether your produce travels from your own garden, your neighbor the farmer, or your local supermarket, summer is the best time to enjoy the best nature has to offer.  Speaking of your own garden, what do you think: Will we have time to plant and harvest another round of lettuce or radishes? Start them today and find out! Last call! Have you gotten your fill of fresh, sweet corn on the cob? Have you exhausted the supply of sun-ripened tomatoes? Have you marveled at how unbelievably SWEET bell peppers are in the summertime? If not, take advantage by stirring up this easy corn, tomato, and bean salad.   1 can chickpeas 4 ears of corn 1 pint of cherry tomatoes 1 sweet bell pepper, any color 1 lime 3 tbsp olive oil salt 1/4 cup c...