February 28, 2018

Healthy Habits – Is Organic Worth the Extra Expense?

Food for thought- Is organic worth the extra expense? By: Kelly Koons Organic has become quit the trend over the last decade. You probably pass by the organic produce section before coming to the regular produce or even see an entire section dedicated to just organic products at your local grocery store. If you’re one of the shoppers wondering if you should pay the extra price to be more health conscious, maybe this article will help you out. Here I’ll talk strictly about produce and some items which may be worth the extra price you pay for organic, and their long term affects on your health. What exactly is “organic”? It means products must be free of synthetic additives like harmful pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and dyes, and must not be processed using industrial solvents. Often times you’ll see a label that states “USDA Organic” which is the stamp of approval from the United States Department of Agriculture, certifying the organic farming process. Many people wonder if it’s beneficial to purchase organic foods since they are more costly. That’s a difficult question since so many factors go into a particular fruit or vegetable such as, the attraction insects and animals may have to it, region of growth, size, exterior layer and so on. To better help you determine if you are getting extra bang for your buck on your favorite produce, take note of the Dirty Dozen list below.  Everything on this has been tested and scientifically proven to contain more pesticides […]
February 13, 2018

Healthy Habits – How’s That Resolution Going?

By: Ryan Sargent Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash Most resolutions don’t make it past January 31st. Is that why gyms charge their “maintenance fees” in February? Maybe Valentine’s Day is strategically positioned so we can cope with chocolate? On many occasions I hear people talking about their resolutions, which is usually promptly followed by a look of disappointment for not following through a promise they made to themselves at the turn of the new year. They lost motivation, can’t seem to get their schedule around the change they started to make, or otherwise share words of defeat for not feeling capable or able to step up to the challenge. There must be a more effective way to make healthy change, right? Some of the drastic changes some of us expect: get a new career, lose 40 pounds in 12 months, go from never going to the gym to going for two hours a day. On New Year’s Eve, these sound admirable and almost doable – we get caught up in the moment and make promises. Once we get out of the starting blocks, however, we quickly feel defeated. If you dig a little deeper and explore the impact this dynamic has on our mental health, it might have you reconsidering how you approach goal setting. Setting these kinds of goals, expecting ourselves to achieve the impossible, and then beating ourselves up when we fail closely remind me of a common thinking error called, “All-or-Nothing Thinking”. This nasty little trait can fuel a […]
February 9, 2018

10 Inexpensive Date Ideas

With Valentine’s Day upon us, I thought it would be fun to make a list of 10 inexpensive date ideas in Columbus. If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to get in a rut of doing the same old things, so it’s fun to explore the city through someone else’s eyes. 1. Go ice skating at the Columbus Blue Jackets Winter Park, presented by Worthington Industries at McFerson Commons. ($5/kids $10/adults, includes skate rental) 2. Show your competitive side at Pins. They have Duckpin Bowling, Pinball, Ping Pong, Shuffleboard, Bocce Ball, Foosball, and Giant Jenga. (games range from 50 cents-$10/hr) 3. Think you would be a good detective from all the crime shows you watch on Netflix? Find a good deal on Groupon for an Escape Room. These are especially fun with a group of friends! 4. Visit your favorite frozen yogurt joint, and take a stroll around Easton. Whether you’re people watching, or window shopping, there’s something for everyone! 5. Something everyone must do at least once, is explore German Village and have a cream puff from Schmidt’s! 6. When the snow finally melts, you can climb 6,000+ square feet of wall for free (if you have your own harness) at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. 7. Take advantage of free admission every Sunday, at the Columbus Museum of Art. 8. Enjoy a coffee while taking in the picturesque beauty of the Topiary Park. 9. Step back in time at the Slate Run Living Historical Farm. Take a peek […]
February 1, 2018

New Year, New Career job fair a success

  Many of the 150 veterans who attended the New Year, New Career job fair on Jan. 18 left with new contacts, job leads and in some cases, interviews. In its fifth year, more than 40 employers representing a wide variety of industries participated in the fair. “Military career fairs re a great opportunity for veteran job seekers,” said Kelley Koons, veterans services specialist for Military Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) and fair organizer. “They give veterans a chance to meet employers who value their and give them an edge over others during the hiring process,” Koons added. Employers were just as pleased as the job seekers who attended the fair. Dee Terrie from Caterpillar said that they scheduled 17 interviews at the fair. Ten of those interviewed moved on to second interviews and four have already started working. Terrie added that she was pleased with the applicants from the job fair and looks forward to participating again next year.