It’s National Nutrition Month and Stef's got a story to share :o)

Even though no kid wants to utter the words, “My mom was right,” in this case, I am proud to say it. Every time I reach for the salt, I can hear my mother asking “Did you even taste it?” So, now, I think of that every time I go for the salt.

The CDC says 9 out of 10 people eat more sodium than recommended. Too much sodium can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, stroke, stomach cancer, and more. And for what? A little flavor? Add some fresh parsley, rosemary, cilantro, lemon juice…the world is full of flavorful herbs and fruits! Use them. Your heart will thank you for it.

A few tips:

    -   When at a restaurant, remove the salt shaker from the table (you may not even miss it)
    -   When using beans or veggies from a can, rinse them well (it washes off unnecessary salt)
    -   Keep an herb garden and snatch some leaves to boost the flavor of your meal

Our friends at eatright.org have a ton more info for you about National Nutrition Month and staying healthy all-year round!

Happy Munching :D

She had found our Nutrition Links page while researching information and strategies for teaching her students.  Stories like these make us so proud and happy that we can be a part of bringing information like this to people, families, and educators around the world.  As always, feel free to email, call, or get in touch - let us know if there's anything else we can do to make YOUR job as educator/student/community leader EASIER!

We all need protein in our diet. However, too much protein isn't the best thing for us. Our friends at The American Heart Association recommend about 46 grams of protein for adult women and 56 grams for adult men.

What's a good gauge for that? Well, a 3-oz piece of meat has approximately 21 grams of protein. So if you eat two pieces per day, you're almost done with the amount of protein you need daily! AND if you limit yourself to only one piece of meat daily, you're leaving more room on your plate for other good sources of protein like milk, yogurt, and beans (which are high in fiber and GREAT for your heart).

Tip: Try going vegetarian for one meal.

Hi everyone! I think WebSpider's been doing a wonderful job these past two weeks writing about diabetes, don't you?

Well, you may or may not know it, but today is World Diabetes Day! And I thought the best way to celebrate would be to share some more healthy munchings, this time specifically diabetes-friendly ones. Of course, all of my favorite snacks are already diabetes-friendly - like carrots and alfalfa (and alfalfa salsa!!!) - but we also have a number of yummy recipes that Judy Puppets and I like to whip up in the workshop too!

Keep reading for some of them...

WebSpider, back again from the Puppet Treehouse workshop with more information on diabetes.  Yesterday we talked about Risk Factors for developing diabetes. If you are at a risk for developing diabetes, what steps can you take to prevent it?

Good news: the best prevention against type 2 diabetes is also the way to a healthy life free of other medical complications! Maintaining a healthy weight through physical activity and a balanced diet are vital steps in preventing type 2 diabetes.

Let's break it down ................................................................

Hi everyone! We've been having loads of fun on our road trip! We just finished wandering around in Boston (also called Beantown!), and now we're in Providence, Rhode Island. Rhode Island is such a small state, but it sure has a lot packed into it!  

Speaking of packing, Judy Puppets and I were just putting together a care package with Rocky to ........