Merritt Clubs Blog

It’s hard to believe, but Halloween is next week. And, it’s not a far leap to see Thanksgiving and the December holidays just around the corner. Depending on how you look at it, Halloween could very well be the start of a season-long fight against the lure of comfort foods, sweets, and festive meals, or, it could be a practice run for the big food holidays that are soon to follow. Here are some easy ways to stay on the wellness path through this frightful time of year.

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.

Going to the gym on an empty stomach isn't for everyone. Though you burn more calories working out without eating first, it is likely that you will not have enough energy to do an intense workout. Eating a small pre-workout meal will give you adequate fuel and nourishment to build the muscle you want. Save the hearty meal for a post-workout because if you eat a full meal beforehand, you will be tired and it will lead to stomach cramps.

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. 

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.

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.

Even if you know that cutting down on salt and sugar would be good for your healthy lifestyle, you may not get around to doing anything about it. When you're feeling swamped with responsibilities at home and at work, it's hard to take on another major project. It's just easier to operate on autopilot doing what you usually do.

The 4^th of July is one of our favorite holidays. Barbecue, beer, and beautiful weather make for the perfect day spent with friends and family, but also the perfect opportunity for a diet disaster. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our top five tips for staying healthy this 4^th of July, and for future barbecues this summer!

We've all been there! You are halfway through your workout and you feel the downward spiral. Your body is tired. Your enthusiasm has turned to mush. The end of the line looks really, really far away, and everything inside of you screams "Quit!"