Fitness – Spring is a great time to run. Get outside while the weather is inviting and run around your neighborhood. Start out with a 15 minute run at a medium pace and increase your time each week. All you need is your sneakers and an MP3 player to get a great workout.

Food – Take vitamins. Vitamins help you stay on track with your health and diet.

Family – Get ready for the summer and teach your children about sun protection. It’s never too soon to inform your kids about the damage the sun can cause.

Summer chicken salad

Cup of brown rice
3 tablespoons of white vinegar
1 tablespoon honey-Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 pd. boneless, skinless chicken cut into pieces
1 large green apple
6 scallions chopped
2 large celery stalks chopped
½ cup sliced almonds
½ cup dried cranberries

Prepare rice following package directions. In a bowl mix vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Then, whisk in a ½ tablespoon of oil with the other ingredients.  Set rice and mixed ingredients to the side.  Next, heat ½ of oil in a large skillet on high heat. Add chicken and cook all the way through.  Set the chicken aside with rice and mixed ingredients.  Then, combine the apple, scallions, almonds and cranberries to the mixed ingredients bowl.  Stir in the rice and chicken next.  Dish may be served warm immediately or refrigerated and served cold.

Fitness – Tend to your yard and garden. Planting flowers, pulling weeds and trimming bushes are a great workout. You can beautify your landscaping and body all at once.

Food – Do not eat until you’re hungry. Try to eat when your body tells you, don’t always rely on the clock. It’s best to let your food completely digest between meals to keep your metabolism active. 

 Family – Make a family movie. Video tape your next family or friend function to preserve a moment in time. If you do not have a camera there are affordable disposable video cameras that are easy to use at your local CVS or Walgreens store. 

Fitness – Cardio workouts are good for your heart.  We workout to stay in shape but adding cardio to your regimen helps your heart be strong and healthy.

Food – Try to drink a glass of V8. An 8 ounce glass of V8 equals a cup of vegetables.  

Family – Clean one room in your house a day.  Take on one room @ a time instead of leaving the whole house to be cleaned at once. Tackling one room each day will be less stressful plus you’ll be more likely to do an efficient job.   

Fitness – Workout with a partner. Ask a family member, friend or colleague to join you on your quest to get in shape. Having a partner to workout with occasionally will help keep things fun and interesting. If your schedule makes it difficult to work out with a partner join a group fitness class.

Food – Watch your salt intake. If you still need salt use sea salt which has 470 grams of sodium per ¼ tsp serving. Morton Salt has 590 grams of sodium found per ¼ tsp serving.

Family – Make changes in your home to improve the environment. Take small steps such as shopping with canvas bags instead of using paper/plastic.  Everyone can make a difference. Become environmentally aware today.