Blue Zones Project Blog

Summer is coming and all too often we look for the next quick fix or fad diet to look good in our bathing suits or short sleeves. However, what may work in the short term, is not necessarily what is best for our health for the long term. It’s time to take a look at the Mediterranean diet. This traditional diet has rooted itself over 5,000 years based on regional environment, culture, seasonal foods and local products. Only in the last 50 years has it been the subject of intensive clinical research and gained traction in the health and scientific community as one of the healthiest diets in the world. In fact, U.S. News & World Report recently announced the Mediterranean Diet as the No. 1 Best Overall Diet for the third year in a row.

Last year, I took a step back to evaluate my weekly routine as I was finding myself spending an increasingly large number of nights going out to dinner, stopping by a happy hour or grabbing lunch out while I was on the go. I also found that I was spending a lot of money and eating some pretty unhealthy food options. I was hearing a lot of the same from my group of girlfriends. We knew we had an opportunity to change the activities we were doing so we could start living a healthier lifestyle. A group of six of us decided then to commit to a year of health and well-being improvements.

“Hey! Who ate all my chips!?”

 

I think we’ve all fallen victim to mindless munching before, but becoming a mindful eater isn’t just for the meditators and yogis. Mindful eating should be a goal for all of us.

Behind every good recipe is an even better story—the story makes it tasty too! (If you don’t immediately get the reference to Vitameatavegamin & Lucille Ball – then I feel sorry for you).

 

Picture this: A big family - Mom, Dad, five children, and Nanny (aka Grandma Daisy) are all watching television together (yes, this was a long time ago).

Many of us are now working from home, and it’s not always easy. You may have seen this funny video from an otherwise serious   BBC interview  and relate now more than ever.   

 

Much has rapidly changed in a few short weeks as millions of us now experience “WFM.”  This abbreviation for “Works for Me” or “Works from Home” are both appropriate in today’s new virtual work environment. For some of us, working remotely is not new.

Responding appropriately and positively to stress is healthy, satisfying, and could contribute to better outcomes. Certainly, the world is undergoing intense negative pressures which can be overwhelmingly damaging short-term or harnessed for good long-term.