Merritt Clubs Blog

Another holiday season has come and gone and if you’re at home for the next few days enjoying your freedom until the reality of Monday rolls around, consider using this time to catch up on those Zzz’s. Getting proper sleep is essential for maintaining optimal health. When it comes to health, sleep is just as important, if not more, than exercise and a balanced diet. It turns out, sleep is the magical ingredient to keep your brain, your body, and your emotions functioning at an ideal level.

As 2019 winds down, our minds are filled with holiday plans, a long list of to-dos, and the beginning stages of setting resolutions for 2020. Goal setting is important because goals give us direction and help to build confidence. Goals are what take us forward in life and guide us on the path to achieving our true desires. It has been stated by the motivational speaker Zig Ziglar that “a goal properly set is halfway reached.” This statement cannot be more accurate!

It seems like Labor Day was only yesterday and now the sun sets way too early, sweats are our outfits of choice, and the stress of the holidays is already creeping in. With Thanksgiving several days away, there’s no better time to plan for a fun, festive, and feel-good day.

As the saying goes, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Among the world’s most popular fruit, there’s a lot of truth to this old adage. Apples are high in fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. They are filling and can be used in a variety of ways: sweet recipes, savory recipes, juices, sauces, drinks…the list goes on and on.

School hasn’t even been back in session for a full month, and yet, do you find yourself already bored packing the same lunches day after day? Does that PB&J look a little lackluster? Are you stumped for ideas of how to spice up both you and your kids’ lunch boxes? Look no further for a little inspiration to keep lunches not only fun and different, but healthy and full of essential nutrients to power your family through school and work, and to keep them energized through after-school activities, sports, and gym time.

With fall looming in the distance and signs of Back to School sales in abundance, it seems like we blinked our eyes and summer is quickly coming to an end. Fortunately, there are still several weeks left of sunshine, long days, warm nights, and fun-filled activities. Make the most of the rest of the Dog Days of Summer and check some items off your summer bucket list before breaking out the sweaters and snow boots. Have a last hurrah, get out of the gym and get your exercise in while spending time with your friends and family. Here are some fun and active ways to make the most of the rest of your summer.   

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.