Fall is finally here and while pumpkin spice is all the rage this time of year, most of the processed pumpkin-flavored foods you find on grocery shelves don’t provide all the wonderful heart healthy benefits real pumpkin has to offer. Using real pumpkin – whether straight from the farm or out of a can – […]
Category: Diet & Nutrition

Tricks to a Healthier Halloween!
Happy Halloween! If you’re feeling a little anxious about how to navigate this candy-filled holiday, you’re not alone. Parents in particular may feel a little stressed. They want their children to avoid the same mistakes they made, and Halloween seems like a particularly good time to impart some wisdom. Maybe the holiday gives flashbacks of […]

A Healthy Weight and Body Image for Teenage Girls
As a parent, you may be noticing unhealthy changes in your teenage daughter’s weight and you worry about the effects on her health and body image. While your daughter might feel upset or worried about her weight, it’s important for parents to address it but in a sensitive way that focuses on your teenage daughter’s […]

Plan a Healthier Trip to the State Fair This Year!
Planning a trip to the State Fair? Think you need a day off to recover from the food? Visit the State Fair’s Food & Ride Finder to plan your day and find a little balance. You can access a complete vendor list to choose the treats you’re most looking forward to trying. It’s also a […]

Get SMART About Goal Setting
Once you have committed to what you want to achieve, no matter what area of your life, the next step is to set a goal. Goal setting helps you to concentrate on your efforts and keeps you motivated. If previous health and wellness goals have left you discouraged or frustrated, try setting S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable, Realistic, […]

Healthier Versions of Your Favorite Recipes
With baking season right around the corner, it is inevitable that sweet treats high in calories, added sugars and saturated fats will abound. If you are on the receiving end, these baked goodies can be enjoyed as part of a well-balanced diet by keeping portion sizes in check. Otherwise, try the following tips at home […]

Back to School Lunch Packing Pointers
A healthy lunch that your child will actually eat – many parents struggle to find those nutritious and delicious items to pack in their kids’ lunch. Here are some common problems that parents face and some helpful ideas. Crunched for Time Prep lunches the night before while making dinner or right after dinner while doing […]

Sizzlin’ Summer Seafood Your Heart Will Love
As North Carolinians, we’re incredibly fortunate to live relatively close to the coast. Just two hours away, there is an ocean full of abundant, heart-healthy seafood that can offer a great change of pace for your summer diet. From North Carolina snapper to catfish, blue crab and clams, indulging in the wealth of seafood our […]

Recipe Corner: “Snappy” North Carolina Red Snapper with Avocado Salsa
This seasonal summer recipe was created by WakeMed executive chef Adam C. Smith and takes advantage of one of our coast’s most plentiful and heart healthy fishes. Flavored with cayenne pepper, the heat of the “snappy” dish can be easily adjusted by adding more or less cayenne. View a printable version of this recipe. INGREDIENTS […]

Eggs Plus Recipe
Eggs have received a bad rap for many years due to the saturated fat content that is found in the yolk. However, current research has shown that moderate amounts of saturated fats are essential for the body and aid in hormone production and boosting healthy HDL cholesterol levels. The Nutritional Value of an Egg Yolk […]