Merritt Clubs Blog

National Ice Cream Month

We all know the saying; April showers brings May flowers. Well along with those flowers (and the unfortunate resulting allergies), May brings us National Salad Month. There is no better time than now to seek out local farmers markets, produce stands, and grocery stores to grab ingredients to put together a healthy, filling, and delicious salad. Below you will find some tips and recipes to bulk up your salads that will have the whole family eating those leafy greens all the way into the cooler months ahead. 

We all know the dreaded feeling when we can barely button our pants, our belly is so distended that we look far into our second trimester of pregnancy, and we’re terrified to leave the comforts of home in fear of gastrointestinal distress. I’m talking about belly bloating.

It's hard to believe that with the unpredictability of March’s weather, springtime is right around the corner. Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil said a short month ago, spring officially begins on March 20^th.  In addition to the changing of the seasons, March is also National Nutrition Month. Started by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 1980, National Nutrition Month is “an annual nutrition education and information campaign focusing on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits,” which comes at the perfect time considering that winter is notorious for poor eating habits. During the cold and dark months, we typically hibernate to our couches and are warmed by hearty comfort foods and Netflix binge-fests to escape the harsh winter weather.

'Tis the season for a cough, sniffle, or if you’re one of the unlucky ones, a bout with the flu. Instead of turning to your nearby drug store to keep you out of the doctor’s office, look no further than your kitchen. Stock up on the following five powerful immune system boosters to keep your sick days saved for playing in the snow. 

You don’t have to look far during this time of year to find highly-caloric and highly-delicious treats all around. At work, at home, at your friends’ and families’ homes, you’re sure to find platters stocked high with cookies, pies, and other tempting treats that will have you diving in face first and leading to that overly stuffed, uncomfortable, gotta-put-on-sweatpants feeling. If you take a moment now to step back and reflect on what the holidays are truly about (read: friends and family) and to focus on your goals, you’ll cruise into the new year feeling great both physically and mentally.

It seems like we wait all year for summer to arrive when we can finally relax, unwind, and have some fun. Once Memorial Day hits, vacations, BBQs, and other festivities fill our weeks and weekends and before we know it, it’s time to start thinking and planning for Back to School. We should begin to set our sights on the upcoming fall season and how to keep our bodies and minds healthy and happy as the weather starts to cool and the festivities slow.