dinner of vegan Mexican food
Lifestyle, Stress, Wellness

Make Mealtimes a Mindful Moment

Staying present is much easier for me to do when I’m physically active. The exact opposite is true in regard to when I’m eating. I often power through meal and snack times standing up—especially when I’m working from home and attempting to squeeze in a couple of bites between Zoom meetings, walking the dog and frantically typing on the computer…

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a kitchen waiting to be decorated
Lifestyle, Wellness

How to Elevate At-Home Dining

Eating out frequently is often not an option when working on achieving health goals—and sticking to a budget. But it’s equally common to start to crave the ambiance of a café or restaurant, since dining at home day after day can become a solitary repetition that makes mealtimes far less enjoyable. If you’re bored by the idea of consuming yet…

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puppy cuddling with toys
Lifestyle, Stress, Wellness

Nourish Yourself … Without Taking a Bite

Nourishment is natural. But it also comes in myriad forms. Too often, food is the ‘default’ reward we crave — or a quick source of comfort on a stressful day. Choices that, left unchecked, can trigger unhealthy behaviors and negative feelings if we over-indulge. The next time you’re craving a little TLC, try one of these nourishing activities instead of…

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two pieces of healthy sweet potato toast
Lifestyle, Motivation, Recipes, Wellness

Tips to Stay on Track (Now That 2022 Is No Longer the ‘New Year’)

Sticking to wellness goals often goes quite well for the first few weeks of a new year. But it’s also equally common to start feeling less motivated as February gets underway. Take this proactive approach for staying on track over the weeks ahead: Remember that food affects mood. So avoid the trap of emotional eating as a short-term distraction from…

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Rachel Werner
Featured, News, Wellness

Nice to Meet You!

Greetings! As the new Nutrition and Fitness Editor for TOPS, I’m really looking forward to sharing wellbeing tips and new recipes I hope you all will enjoy. I’ll 100% admit to being a foodie on — and off — the clock. I’ve been writing restaurant reviews and profiling food-based businesses for almost nine years. In addition, I still regularly create…

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sketch of red crayon heart on white background
Health, Lifestyle, Motivation, Nutrition, Stress, Wellness

Wellness Wednesday Favorites – Part 2

I’m blown away by all of the heartfelt comments and messages I received from my previous post! Your kind words mean the world to me. As promised, here are five more of my favorite posts from over the years. 10 Simple Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions 3 Breathing Exercises to Ease Stress 3 Must-Haves for Your Kitchen Nature, Yoga ……

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