Mini meditation

Stress can be very harmful to your health. The truth is we all face stress on a daily basis....it's how we deal with stress that helps us maintain our health. People who can take a few minutes per day to meditate, or think about a place or situation that makes them content, can relieve stress. Where is your happy place that calms the mind and helps you decompress? Think for a minute about a scene or moment in time that makes you smile. Do you have a picture of that place or the people in your life so you can and smile from time to time?

Interesting recipe experiment

Recently I modified one of my own recipes that makes a very simple and tasty meal. Basil Pesto is delicious and is easily tossed into pasta just before serving. By sauteing some onions, red peppers and broccoli this dish looks and tastes like a gourmet production.

Last weekend I used half fresh kale (one bunch, rinsed and drained) and half fresh basil from my Aero Garden. The result was awesome and a recipe that I will make again and again. The bonus is the recipe is nutritious due to the addition of fresh kale. Soon I will create a recipe video, but for now gives this quick recipe a try. Make the pesto when you have time then freeze it in small batches (I use snack size plastic baggies). Then on a work night, toss the pesto into hot cooked pasta for a family treat!

Basil Pesto

Super snacks for the Super Bowl

People are already thinking ahead to the Super Bowl and the snacks to serve for this annual feasting event. Why not prepare a snack or two that can also serve as a quick energizers for the days following the Super Bowl party? Set aside small amounts in snack-sized plastic bags and take to work along with fresh red peppers or broccoli as a special tasty treat while on the job.

Here is my favorite snack recipe: Roasted Garlic Roasted Hummus

Hearty Soup for Winter

There is nothing like a soup to satisfy the appetite for lunch and boost your energy level for an afternoon of deadlines and unexpected issues. Soup made at home is usually lower in sodium, fat and calories. Try this simple soup: roast a few root vegetables that are available in the supermarket in winter, then turn them into a delicious, fiber-rich and satisfying soup. Make the soup at home and pack for lunch on a cold or rainy day. Here is the recipe:
Roasted Root Vegetable Soup

Stay Healthy During Flu Season

This year the flu is impacting large numbers of people. Here are a few simple tips to keep you healthy:

• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently.
• Stash a small bottle of hand sanitizer and box of tissues in your desk.
• Cover your sneeze or cough with your inner elbow.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day.
• Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables.
• Stay home from work when you are ill!

To a healthier NJ workforce

I have great news to report! The Family & Community Health Sciences Department at Rutgers Cooperative Extension has been awarded funding to develop NJ's Comprehensive Worksite Wellness Toolkit. The project will allow us to devise the toolkit and field test it in 21 NJ worksites throughout the state. Here we go doing the work that we do best!!!

A healthy snack for your family

Everyone in the family loves a crunchy snack! Take a bunch of fresh kale, wash and pat it dry, toss with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, then bake in a hot oven. In just a few minutes you will have a crunchy and healthy snack ready to eat. See the full RECIPE.