Remember when summers seemed to last an eternity? I’m not sure exactly when that changed – maybe it has been a gradual shift over time. Now, if I don’t make an effort to get outside and experience the change of seasons it would be easy to forget that its happening. Nature is a great teacher in so many ways if only we can be still long enough.
I just love the energy of our cute little cover gal this month. I’m also happy to see her holding a wonderful healthy snack in her hands, too. A great deal of new research has concluded how closely our diet is linked to our feelings, behaviors and overall health. We can all take small steps to change our habits and make better choices. This time of year, a really easy way to do that is to visit your local farmers market, and seek out recipes that will help you and your family enjoy the delicious flavors of freshly picked fruits and vegetables. There is truly nothing like it.
Samantha Gibbs is a local mom on a mission to make a difference. She started Color Wheel Meals on the premise that the healthiest way to eat involves a balanced combination of lots of great colors of foods. She has a gift for creating some very tasty raw food combinations and her kids love them. Check out her website at ColorWheelMeals.com and watch her in action at the Allen Park Farmers Market on Fridays from 11am-6pm. (Be sure to take note of the new hours.)
Paula Neys wrote a great article on page 22 about the effects of diet on children with autism. It seems to me that this could actually be life changing information for families struggling to cope. Paula is a wonderful resource on digestive health and wellness for people of all ages. Of course, as with any major changes, we encourage you to consult your doctor to guide you through this adjustment in diet.
Have you noticed all the events that are happening at Vivo Wellness Center this month? Owner Denise Strauss and her daughter Stacie are really working hard to reach out to the community with great opportunities to learn more about health and wellness. I am especially excited about their new partnership with Cooperative Networks starting August 3. I love the idea of a group of business professionals working together to help each others’ businesses. I believe that this is exactly the type of grass roots effort that it will take to help stimulate our local economy as well.
If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your work out routine, be sure to read our fit body feature, “Hooping it Up for Health” on pgs 36-37 by Ellen Mahoney. Hoola-hooping is great exercise, and even first lady Michelle Obama is getting in on the action. You can decorate your hoop with bright colored tape to amp up the coolness factor. If you want some help getting started, check out the classes offered by fitness guru Danielle Greene at VixonFitness.com. I would challenge you to try to get bored with one of the many different types of fitness classes she offers. [ad pg 47]
Be sure, too, to take some time out to nurture your own vibrant inner child this month. Can you think of the last time that you did something just for the fun of it? The other day I was heading somewhere using my GPS, and I noticed that the GPS ‘voice’ pronounced some of the streets in and around the metro Detroit area a little bit differently than we typically do. It’s one of those things that I never really paid much attention to before, but suddenly it just seemed amazingly funny to hear ‘her’ pronounce roads like ‘Dequindre’ or ‘McNichols’ and I caught myself having an inner child moment of silliness. I have to admit it felt pretty darn good. Live Well.
