February 23, 2021

Self-care does not have to be complicated, but it should include actions that promote your physical, mental and emotional health.  “Self-Care | Made Simple” offers practical tips - easy, actionable steps you can take to enhance your personal well-being that follow three key pillars: Eat Well. Stress Less. Move More. This month’s focus is to “Eat Well” with this tip: Make Your Favorite Meals at Home.

Did you know that almost anything you cook at home will be healthier than dining out? To keep foods edible longer, restaurants need to load them with preservatives such as sodium. Rather than utilizing flavorful and nutritious spices and herbs, many restaurants rely on additives such salt, sugar, and trans- or saturated-fats to give their foods flavor. Why? Because it’s easy and cheap!

Even healthier items, like a grilled chicken sandwich, can be loaded with sodium, covered with sugary sauces and slapped onto a bun with way more added sugar than you might imagine.

Try making your favorite meals at home. In this case, the internet is your friend! You will find an abundance of information online when it comes to healthy recipes.  If you have a favorite dish from a restaurant, chances are that someone, somewhere, has made a delicious, healthier version to share on their blog.  Love Chipotle? Make an at-home version with your favorite burrito bowl ingredients! Big fan of fried chicken? Try some different oven-fried chicken recipes to see which you like best.

Making basics like dipping sauces, salad dressings and bread products at home also allows you to control how much sugar and salt are added, helping you to reduce excess calories and eat healthier.

Visit the Self-Care | Made Simple page on Bridge for monthly tips to help you form habits that will integrate self-care into your daily routine.

Love the idea of an at-home burrito bowl!
Posted by: Maureen Swift on February 24, 2021
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Great ideas!
Posted by: Julia Howard on February 24, 2021
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