Behind the times

Yes, I admit and I am SO behind in blogging. I guess I will never be the typical blogger because I really don't have that much to say.

My friend and I has started a new meetup for the Murrieta Valley titled, Wholistic Health & Wellness Co-op. It also serves as a networking group of like minded people. The co-op is through Azure Standard, a small farm in Oregon. They make once a month trips throughout California. I am responsible for the message board so with this new task and my fan page on Facebook, it has left little time to write here. Soon though, it'll be a great place to share the latest and greatest of what we're learning in the co-op group and what I'm doing through my own personal business regarding nutrition and health and wellness.

I'm gearing up for a wellness talk on the 20th where I will provide an interactive approach to label reading plus I'll do a sugar demonstration on typical foods Americans think are good and healthy. We'll watch a DVD and refreshments will be provided. Some handouts will be given so families can take the information and apply it at home. The DVD has school aged children teaching the steps to properly reading an ingredients list and its accompanying nutritional label. Children ages 6 and older are encouraged to attend the talk. If the kids can 'get it' then I know their parents will too. Getting kids involved in picking out the right foods in the grocery store is a great experience for the entire family. The talk will be held at a children's learning center. It'll be my first one at this venue. Then in December, I'll have a booth there exhibiting my business. I take my son to play at this center at least twice a month. They offer open play a few times a month to all kids. This center is operating in its second year and was founded for children with autism or those with sensory needs.

Oh the other reason I have not had time to blog is because I have been coordinating several businesses for the Toys for Tots toy drive. I am managing 12 business and most of them are family or privately owned. Boxes and posters were delivered before the start of November and the drive for 10 of them will end on the 30th of November. I have already requested publication in the local newspaper and it was printed this past Sunday. Here is the online version. The other two will end on the 3rd and then the 11th. I will be giving one of the businesses a $25 gift card to Toys R Us. They don't know who they are just yet and I'm not saying who it is either. It'll be a nice surprise. Just a small incentive for participating and actually being the first to say yes!

August Newsletter

I recommend you signing up for the free weekly newsletter from Fruit & Veggie More Matters. They have great nutritional tips that are easy to implement into busy lives. Just today their tip discussed "rules for the road" providing smart and sensational summer snacking. As some of you know, we came back from a couple week trip, we were in the air or on the road frequently and it was important for us to pack healthy and low sugar snacks.

Talking about sugar, have you seen Men's Health latest "Eat this, not that" segment on the 20 Worst Drinks in America? Oh my!! I am very happy to say that I've never drank any of the mentioned. Whew! But, if you do, remember moderation is key but even more importantly, finding an alternative would be ideal. More information on the drinks can be found by clicking this link.

I am planning two wellness talks this month. The first is Thursday, August 26 at 6:30 to be held in beautiful Wine Country Temecula. My friend, Jan Tucker, will be hosting it at her home and she will provide education on skin/home care going beyond "green" with quality ingredients. She'll give you tips on how to identify what chemicals are toxic and how to avoid them all together. I will be addressing nutrition on how it will help achieve sustained internal health while growing your hair and keeping your skin aglow. This wellness talk, I am spearheading a Drive for Dress for Success San Diego and we are looking for new women's business shoes and handbags in excellent condition. These items are tax deductible and they will go to help local disadvantaged women get back into the workforce. Your in-kind donations are appreciated!  Please contact me for details. 

The other talk will be held on Monday, August 30th on Pregnancy. There will be several guest speakers and will be held at Beautiful Life Ultrasound in Murrieta. Both events are free. Come mingle, learn, and enjoy some refreshments. 

Last week, I conducted a wellness talk on Nutritional Label Reading. It is shocking that many people do not know how to read labels and /or identify the ingredients that are red flags and this is one of the reasons I enjoy doing these talks. I can show people. It doesn't cost them a thing - just their time. I am appreciative to my sponsor for providing a plethora of nutritional resources that I use at my talks. I am also connected to many medical professionals in this organization that provides endless tips on eating healthier. Eating whole foods is just one of many things that we can do to enhance our lifestyle and live a long and satisfying life. 

At this Label Reading talk, I did a sugar demonstration illustrating how much sugar, in teaspoons, are found in everyday consumables, many of which are marketed to be healthy, like Yoplait Yogurt or Yogurt fruit snacks. Learning to read labels and avoiding specific ingredients, one quickly can discern which products to buy in the store. Some red flags to avoid: high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors (dyes), and anything hydrogenated. Your label may tell you 0% trans fat but when you read the label and it has hydrogenated oils, it certainly does include trans fat. Natural News put out a new but brief article on label reading.

Did you know that "A study at Harvard of 80,000 women showed for each 2% increase in the amount of calories from trans fat, a woman’s coronary risk jumps 93%!".  Do you think it's worth eating those Ritz crackers? Many of your favorite crackers have hydrogenated oils AND high fructose corn syrup. That's a recipe for weight gain among other ailments that can lead to diabetes, heart problems, and high cholesterol.

Are you subsidizing your illness or investing in your wellness?