March is Living Well Month and a great time to get on the right path. Taking charge of your health contributes to your overall well-being. Let’s take this opportunity to look at several aspects of wellness. I’m including links to the statewide 2023 Living Well Campaign I have been a part of creating for the citizens of North Carolina and I hope you carve time out of your day to continue, Living Well.
First up, nutrition. Sugary drinks, soda, sweet tea, juice blends, and even some flavored waters are loaded with calories and added sugars. Take a look at the label on the back of a soda. You will see that one soda and many other drinks contain two-three times the total daily recommended amount of added sugar. Cutting back on added sugars in your drinks is a great start to taking back your health.
I also want you to pile on the vegetables. Vegetables are nutrient powerhouses! Give yourself a challenge of preparing one new-to-you vegetable each week. Roasting vegetables is a fantastic way to bring out some natural flavors in otherwise boring vegetables. One of my favorite websites for vegetable recipes is Food Hero. I also keep a collection of great vegetable recipes at the Extension Office so come by and grab a few! Another great way to test out some new recipes is to try a meal kit program. I love that my delivery comes with all of the ingredients portioned and ready to cook. I would be happy to discuss some of these options if you are interested.
Having a healthy lifestyle means more than just eating healthy and getting plenty of physical activity. Living in a healthy environment plays an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases and accidents. Ensuring your home is safe inside and out creates a healthy home and lifestyle. You can pick up a home maintenance checklist at the office!
Social, emotional and spiritual wellness is so important for your overall health and wellness. Psychologists found that happiness is likely a combination of genetics(50%), situation(10%), and individual effort (40%). We are in charge of a large chunk of our happiness. Practice being thankful. Studies have shown a link between gratitude and happiness. Practicing gratitude on a daily basis allows room for relationships to flourish, leads to improved mental health and allows you to become more open and to think positively about yourself.
Take time away from technology! Unplug and be present in the moment. Screen time is disruptive to your sleep schedule and tends to distract us from our goals and relationships. So turn it off!
Please reach out by phone (828-764-9480) or email (bsilver@ncsu.edu) to let me know how Living Well Month is going for you! I would love to report what impacts this campaign has on Burke County. Be well!
Brandi Silver
Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences
The Extension Office is located at
130 Ammons Drive
Suite 2
Morganton, NC 28655
Living Well Links
