A: Yes and Yes. It is true that produce can get expensive when it is out of season which can make it seem impossible to eat healthy. It might surprise you to know that aside from picking produce straight from your garden and eating it instantly, the healthiest way to eat produce is frozen! The minute fresh produce is picked, it begins to deteriorate which means a loss in nutritive value and phytochemicals (all big words to mean the “good stuff”). When produce is going to be frozen it is picked right at the peak of its ripeness, meaning its nutritional value is the highest it will ever be. It is then instantly frozen, which stops the natural deterioration process, so all that goodness is maintained in the food until it is ready to be eaten. Canned foods are a little different. There are some downfalls such as excess sodium and possible chemicals from the lining of the can, buying organic, BPA-free, low-sodium canned produce will help to reduce those risks. Otherwise my next suggestion would be to rinse the food well before cooking. Most of the sodium and some of the chemicals can be rinsed off therefore making the food a little healthier. The good thing is that you are eating your vegetables, so do what you can each season, follow the ads, save a buck here and there if you can. But keep eating those veggies, in whatever capacity you can afford.
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Here’s some food for thought: Next year consider growing a garden or investing in a CSA. Then you would be able to can and freeze your own produce for those long winter months. That way you control what goes in there, and can save some money over the long run.

A: Great question and Yes, there are many diet changes that can help combat skin dryness. First and foremost increase water intake. Water not only helps our internal body systems run efficiently, it is also especially important for skin health. Keeping yourself hydrated on the inside is a great way to keep your skin supple on the outside.

Another consideration is healthy fats. Omega 3s are a good example, they help the skin retain moisture. A few great sources for these are fish oil, flax seed, and walnuts. Another healthy skin fat is avocado. Not only is this good for you to eat, but many people use this fruit to make masks and moisturizers for topical use.

Celery and cucumbers are also beneficial for skin health as they contain an ingredient called silica which helps boost the skins moisture and elasticity.

Most importantly remember that our skin is a reflection of what we eat. If we eat junk, chances are our skin will show that. So make healthy choices not only for your health and your weight, but also for nice supple skin!

​For more information on what foods to eat for your skin contact Jessica at Core Health & Nutrition for details regarding an upcoming skin care event!

A: Good Question! This is the time of year where we all take stock of how things went the past 12 months and how we would like them to go the next dozen. This thought process leads most of us to make resolutions or goals to help prioritize what is important for the upcoming year. Whether you write it down, talk it out, or paint it on a canvas, any goals you set for yourself should be SMART. SMART is an acronym to help increase the success rate for the goals and resolutions you create this year. Here are the details to get your started.

• S: Specific – target a specific area for improvement (example: eating more vegetables).
• M: Measurable – suggest an indicator of progress (how many times a day you will eat these vegetables).
• A: Attainable – assuring that an end can be achieved (choosing vegetables you already like, setting achievable quantity to eat each day, etc)
• R: Realistic – state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources and looking at when you have been successful at other goals, what worked then. (If you are a meat loving lawyer it would not be very “realistic” to set a goal to become a vegetarian peace core worker by next year.)
• T: Time-related – specify when the results can be achieved, (give yourself an end date and once you reach that set a new goal or expand on the current).

​If you need any assistance focusing your goals this year please give my office a call and I will get you set up with a coaching session to get things moving in the right direction as soon as possible.