Message from Your Wellness Coordinator
Why take advantage of Hometown Health's coaching services? 

Health coaches can help you reach your goals, whether you want to focus on fitness, nutrition, stress management or something else. The calls are absolutely free! Plus, you can earn 20 points per call (up to four times to earn points) toward your goal of 100. When you earn 100 points before September 30, 2017, you'll get a $100 Visa gift card.

You can schedule your coaching calls on your Hometown Health portal or speak to a health coach without an appointment by calling (855) 667-2546.

Check out this month's wellness newsletter that is filled with helpful tips below!

All the best,
Gwen
Calorie and Nutrition Needs for Kids

Is it necessary to know how many calories your child needs? Or are their nutrient needs more important?

Ever wonder how many calories your child really needs? Most dietitians and pediatricians tend to agree that as long as a child eats a balanced diet and keeps a healthy weight, counting calories is not really needed.

Calorie guidelines, though, can be useful for parents whose children may be struggling with being overweight or underweight. In these cases, it can help to have a general sense of how many calories your child should be striving for.

Five Dieting and Nutrition Myths Busted

Forget everything you've heard about dieting and nutrition as we bust 5 myths. 

We all have one: A friend who seems to know all the latest fad diets and weight loss tips and tricks. The fact is, however, that there are many myths about how to go about eating and exercising. Here are five common dieting and nutrition myths debunked.
1. Myth: All fat is bad
Fact: Not all fats are bad fats.
Mono- and polyunsaturated fats are actually good for us. They can help increase our good cholesterol, help our hearts and may reduce inflammation. The bad fats you should eliminate from your diet are trans-fats and saturated fats. These are found in many processed foods that contain refined sugars. Foods rich in good fats are found in fish and plant-based foods like avocados, nuts and seeds.

Keeping a Well-Stocked Kitchen: Cupboard Basics

Keeping your pantry stocked with healthy foods is the first step toward building solid eating habits. 

Having plenty of healthy foods on hand is a great way to build a foundation for good eating habits that may last a lifetime. Do a pantry makeover and fill your kitchen with ingredients that may help the whole family develop healthy eating behaviors. Welcome fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, seafood, lean meats and poultry to your kitchen and pantry. Experts recommend including these food groups in everyday diet.

Here are some tips on how to stock your kitchen to help you get into a healthy eating routine.

Fruits
 Have fruit on hand in a variety of forms: fresh, frozen, canned, juice and dried. For example:
  • Bananas
  • Berries
  • Melons
  • Raisins
  • Orange juice
  • Apple juice
Check that the canned and frozen fruits and juices do not have added sugar.

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