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Showing posts from May 11, 2017

Work + Playgrounds

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Hey, hey! Happy Friday, friends! I’m so glad that the weekend is just about here. We actually have another family sleepover planned for the weekend – this time with cousin Matthew (Qman is obsessed with him!) as well as my sister, brother-in-law, and niece. Having the whole family sleepover is such a great way to spend more than a few hours together because (I’m sure the parents can relate) it’s difficult to coordinate nap and bedtimes, so we just make them part of our visit. Family sleepovers are the best!  Anyway… here’s a little day in the life recap from earlier this week. My morning started with rice cakes, nut butter (peanut butter on one, almond butter on the other), and banana slices, which is definitely a go-to for me on the LEAP diet . Related: I actually had a call with Kelli on Wednesday, and she gave me the green light for introducing some new foods, so I’m excited to add a little more variety to me diet! After that, I took Murphy for a walk while Mal...

How Should We Harness Behavioral Economics for Better Health?

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As much as humans think they’re objective beings whose every decision emerges from cold logical calculation, we’re just irrational, emotional animals. That’s why stories and anecdotes are more convincing than facts, why people fear losing money twice as much as they enjoy making it, and why the guy making $100k per year feels poor if his neighbors make twice that. This kind of phenomenon is best explained by behavioral economics, a method of economic inquiry that uses psychological, emotional, cognitive, and social factors to explain why we make the often-irrational financial choices we do. And it has some interesting applications for health…. In a recent piece in the NY Times , a doctor discussed how health care professionals are beginning to leverage behavioral economics to make their patients healthier. He begins with a few examples of behavioral economics in action. People are more likely to choose an option if it’s the default position. In one study, countries where p...

How to Shop the Farmer’s Market on a Budget

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One of the best things about the arrival of spring is the re-emergence of farmer’s markets. Who doesn’t love a good weekend stroll through rows of locally grown produce? But although the produce is fresh and beautiful, it can also be quite expensive. Instead of dropping $10 on two apples and a carton of berries, use these dietitian-approved money saving tips to spare your wallet during your next trip to the farmer’s market.   1. Get to know your farmer. Farmers are people too! Because they spend all day standing around in what can be rough climates, they like to break up the day and have a conversation about the produce. “ Farmers are passionate about their work and they’ll appreciate when you are too,” says Christy Brissette, MSc, RD of 80 Twenty Nutrition . She adds that striking up a conversation with a local farmer will not only provide insight into the origins of your food, but you may also find some extra veggies added to your bag. Plus, you’ll have made a knowledgeable f...

The Junction Of Love

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Yesterday evening Thomas and I met my friend Dana for a little photo shoot in downtown Belmont. I am showcasing a few dresses for an upcoming post (coming soon!), and I thought getting out on the town would make for a much prettier background than taking iPhone photos in front of a mirror : ) Dana did a superb job, and I can’t wait to share them! We had every intention of cooking some salmon at home last night, but the shoot took longer than expected and the Caps hockey game was on at 7:30 (!!) so for time’s sake we popped into Junction for a quick dinner since we were right there. I’ve been wanting to go since it opened, and it did not disappoint! I wasn’t super hungry so I ordered an arugula salad with goat cheese, fried tomatillos and mahi mahi on top. T had the mahi fish tacos, which were excellent – especially with this great hot sauce they bring to the table. He shared a taco with me! To thumbs up, and we want to go back when we have more time and appetite for all the ch...