Year’s end can be stressful and this year even more so!

THE STORY: The year is almost over, but the stress from the holidays and the pandemic isn’t. While there are many ways stress can be handled - from medication to meditation - why not try chowing down on some superfoods? Certain superfoods are fabulous for decreasing stress levels; here are five of the best!

THE FOODS:

More and more seniors are able to live at home, instead of with assisted care, these days with the help of technology.

THE STORY: The future is here, and for senior citizens, the future allows for them to take more control of their healthcare and how they live. Particularly with the past two years of pandemic living, seniors have become more accustomed to using technology in ways they might not have before - from video calls to ordering groceries online and more. Couple with a growing hospital-at-home trend in the healthcare sector, this means it’s easier than ever for seniors to continue living where they are rather than in assisted or independent living communities. What else does the future hold?

Hypertension is known as the silent, but deadly killer. Here’s what you need to know.

THE STORY: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common disease that affects many adults in the U.S. each year. The higher your blood pressure is, the more at risk for issues such as heart disease and stroke you are. You’re probably used to getting your blood pressure tested each time you visit the doctor, but do you know what the numbers actually mean?

The top number is the pressure in your arteries each time your heart beats. The bottom number is the pressure between beats. Different doctors may diagnose hypertension at different numbers, but, ideally, you want the top number to be 120 or under and the bottom number to be 80 or under.

Holidays are wonderful, but holiday food isn’t always good for you.

THE STORY: It’s the holiday season! That means time spent with family and friends, plus a plethora of holiday foods. Who else is excited?

However, for some, holidays can be a bit more difficult - at least when it comes to the food part. If you’re dealing with health issues such as diabetes or hypertension, there are several foods it’s better for you to avoid.

TOP 5 BAD HOLIDAY FOODS:

The top five foods you should avoid if you have hypertension or diabetes are:

Believe it or not, frozen food can be just as healthy as fresh. You just need to choose wisely.

THE STORY: Let’s face it — it’s much easier picking up something from the grocery store's freezer section for dinner rather than making a meal from fresh ingredients. Plus, it’s more economical and requires less time on your part. The only problem is how unhealthy that can be. Right? Not exactly. Turns out that some frozen food is healthy; you just know how to pick it. Of course, this doesn’t include frozen meals or frozen pizza, which are often high in sodium and artificial ingredients, but there’s still plenty in the frozen food section you can stock up on.

TIPS FOR BUYING HEALTHY FROZEN FOOD:

After a year plus of indulging in pandemic cooking, a lot of people are starting to experience kitchen burnout. Are you one of them?

THE STORY: Many people have been spending more time in the kitchen during the pandemic due to eating in being safer than eating out. But after more than a year of coming up with and creating home-cooked meals, a lot of people are experiencing kitchen burnout. What is kitchen burnout?

Hormones are vitally important to our health. Could what we eat affect them?

THE STORY: Our hormones affect basically every function of our body, so if they get out of whack it can cause serious damage to our health. If that happens is there anything to be done other than using medication? Can what we eat affect our hormones - in positive or negative ways? Let’s take a closer look at hormone health and how what we eat affects our hormones.

THE MAIN HORMONES: There are all kinds of hormones in our bodies, but the ones below are some that have the most impact on our well-being.

We’re taking a look at upcoming food trends for the rest of the year and beyond!

THE STORY: Trends come and go, including in the world of food. Recently, there have been several major changes in how food is produced and consumed; some as a result of covid-19, others as a result of global warming, and some just come around for fun. Here’s a look at four food trends that we’re excited about.

THE TRENDS: The trends below include vegan chicken, lab-grown meats, and more!

The coronavirus is still hanging around, only now it has a new variant.

THE STORY: It’s been nearly a year and a half now of the covid pandemic and, unfortunately, it looks like it will be around for a while longer. Plus, the virus has changed so that we’re now dealing with what’s known as the delta variant. Here’s what you need to know.

THE COVID DELTA VARIANT: By now you’ve heard that the coronavirus has mutated into what is now known as the delta variant. Variants aren’t unusual for viruses; it’s what they do. In fact, there are other variants out there but the one that is predominant in the United States right now is delta.

Eating well can be challenging. Luckily, meal delivery services can help!

THE STORY: Healthy eating can be difficult to commit to, but the advent of meal delivery services has made things easier. Now you can have healthy prepared meals delivered straight to your door no matter your needs. But how to figure out which prepared meal delivery service is best for you? We’ve rounded up the top 5 frozen prepared meal delivery services (vs the services that provide ingredients and recipes). Take a look at the list below to figure out which service meets your needs best!

WHICH SERVICE IS BEST FOR YOU? While several delivery services are serving up prepared meals, these are the top five out there, in no particular order.