There are some simple changes that you can make that can make a big difference in your physical and therefore your emotional well being. The first thing you can do is take a multivitamin. Make sure that it is a high quality vitamin. A high quality but lower dose vitamin that is taken three times a day maximizes the absorption and therefore the nutritional benefits.

Another simple change is to try to eat as little processed food as possible. Using whole wheat bread and pasta is an easy way to make this change. Brown rice is also a much better choice over white rice. Making recipes from scratch instead of prepackage, frozen meals can save money as well as having a better tasting, more nutritious meal.

Another simple change is drinking water. The benefits of drinking water over soda, tea, coffee or even juice is huge. Water, not just liquid, helps to keep your body hydrated and keeps your kidneys, bladder, skin as well as most of your major organs functioning correctly. 6 – 8 cups (8oz.) of water a day is recommended.  

Cutting back on simple carbohydrates will help to increase your energy, promote weight loss and help to reduce the risk of diabetes. The body turns all carbohydrates into sugar, however complex carbohydrates contain vitamins that slow down the process so that calories are burned and does not cause sugar spikes. Most people are aware of the high sugar content in things like candy, jam, soft drinks and desserts; however there are other accomplices like white bread, white rice, canned fruit, white flour tortillas and pudding.   

Sometimes in life you just need to laugh at yourself. Humor can make annoying and discouraging things not seem so bad. Sometimes looking at things from a lighter perspective helps you to realize that getting angry only makes things worse, not better. I found a website that may help with this endeavor. It is at www.acomicallife.com and it is a website full of funny stories and flipping events around. For instance have you ever got any of those coupons that say $20.00 off your entire purchase only to discover most everything in the store is excluded? As I read her funny stories, many which have happened to me, it helped me to not take life seriously.

When I was in the 9^th grade I read a poem in school called The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. This poem is about a ship that is blown off course in a storm and it becomes lost at sea. After several weeks the crew has run out of water and becomes deathly thirsty. The old mariner exclaims as he looks out into the ocean “Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink” I am always reminded of this poem on those hot days when it seems that no matter how much you drink, you are still thirsty. The problem in this case may not be the lack of water, but the fact that you just chose not to drink it.

The human body is composed of around 55% water. In order for our body to function properly we need to be hydrated. 8 by 8 is an easy way to remember that you need 8 - 8oz. glasses of water a day. Water cannot be substituted with coffee, tea, juice or soda (even diet soda) all of these liquids contain properties that can actually work against keeping you hydrated. You can substitute 4 of those glasses with a no calorie, none caffeine, none carbonated drink if you choose. Diet soda which is a real crutch for many trying to lose weight because it is sweet and taste good, can actually work against your weight lose efforts. I personally know people who have lost weight and the only thing that they gave up was soda.

This is a really hard one for me. Even though I may not be willing to say no to soda entirely I am willing to take it off my everyday menu. Here is a trick that I have used to drink the water I need everyday. I fill a picture or large water bottle up in the morning with the 64 ounces of water that I need for the day. I am amazed at how with it pre measured; I just drink it through the day. When I go some where I always take a water bottle with me in the car so that I am not tempted to grab a soda if I get thirsty.

Basket are one of those timeless things that never go out of style. They have been around since ancient times and can be both functionally and decorative. If you have ever gone to buy a good quality basket they can be very expensive, however making a basket doesn’t really seem to be an option. There is a new website where you can go and learn a lot about making baskets. Even though this site has very few post the ones that it does have are very informative and made me think that I could possibly learn how to weave baskets. What a neat thing to now how to do for yourself and as gifts. Check out  www.homegrownfromtheheart.com and be inspired.

Here is a really good chocolate cookie that is fairly healthy as far as chocolate cookies go. They also freeze really well. If you wrap two together (with waxed paper in between) and then stick them in a plastic bag you can pull them out two at a time (thaw 15 minutes before eating) and then you may not be as tempted to eat the whole batch.

¾ cup all-purpose flour

¾ cups whole-wheat flour

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

6 large egg whites.

¾ cup granulated sugar

1½ cups packed dark sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer until foamy, about 1 minute. Beat in granulated sugar in a slow, steady, stream. Scrape down the sides, then beat in brown sugar. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla and melted chocolate. Stir in salt, baking soda and cocoa powder. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon until just incorporated.

Drop the batter by tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet, 1½  inches apart.

Bake the cookies until tops are slightly crusty, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Let the pan cool for a few minutes before baking another batch. Makes about 45 cookies.

Nutritional Information: Amount Per Cookie Calories: 68 calories, Carbohydrates 14 grams, Fat 1 gram, Dietary Fiber 1 gram.