Like it or not the media influences the way that teens think about themselves.

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Amway brought in make-up artists from their Artistry cosmetics line to talk to girls about proper skin care and age appropriate make-up tips.

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The girls started the afternoon in the kitchens of GRCC’s Culinary School.

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Anika Smith with Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services led a workshop on self-esteem and finding your inner beauty.  She also addressed questions from some of our Facebook fans.

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One of the highlights of the day was a rockin’ fashion show put on by Wedgwood Christian Services and students from Comstock Park High School.

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Teenage girls often don’t realize the importance of a first impression.  Dr. Lisa Lowery from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital talked to the girls about making healthy choices and presenting themselves in a positive way.

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After our Beautiful U event we talked to the participants and found out what they took away from the afternoon. Here’s what the girls said.

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Around this time of year, I hear a lot of complaints about the weather. I even complain myself sometimes! It is gray. It is cold. The snow never seems to end. Many clients that I have struggle with depression, and the symptoms they experience sometimes feel worse this time of year. The holidays and celebrations are over. Spring Break feels like it’s a long ways away. The sun doesn’t come out much. It’s easy to feel blue just thinking about our West Michigan climate this time of year. For many years, I’ve been hanging on to the notion that our summers make all of this winter gray worth it. How many of you agree with me?

I want to share some information about Seasonal Affective Disorder. Maybe you feel down and don’t feel like yourself—are you wondering if it’s connected to this season? When you look back on the past years, do certain patterns of your mood emerge based on the time of year? Our moods are affected by our hormones, by light, even by body temperature, all of which are affected by changes in season.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression—it’s beyond feeling like you have “cabin fever.”  If you are feeling like you just cannot shake the “winter blahs” no matter what you’ve tried, you may want to read on…

Read all »

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Girls today are bombarded by media messages that make them question their value and their worth.    These messages give young ladies a distorted definition of beauty and what is most important in life.  In an effort to combat these negative message we recently brought together 50 middle school girls from around the area to Ferris State University Grand Rapids for an event called, “Beautiful U”.    The event included a series of workshops put on by our partners Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Priority Health, Pine Rest Christian Services, Meijer, Grand Rapids Community College.  Each session focused on healthy eating, moving more, self esteem, careers and good choices. The Amway One-By-One Campaign was the lead corporate partner and brought in skin and make up specialists to share tips with the girls.    The event wrapped up with a P2  fashion show featuring high school students wearing trendy yet modest clothing from Meijer.    The event was incredible and I can’t wait to share highlights with you this weekend on “Where You Live”.    It’s all about celebrating beauty from the inside out!

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A warm, comforting pot of soup fills your home with memory making aromas. Traditionally, the purpose of soup was to decrease cost and waste by creating a great meal while using up leftovers from your refrigerator and pantry. A delicious, comforting pot of soup offers so many benefits for you and your family.

Benefits of Soup:

Healthy Weight: A lower-calorie vegetable broth soup, especially when added at the beginning of the meal, can help you lose weight. Soup at the start of a meal makes you feel fuller faster, so that you eat less during lunch or dinner.

Fast and Healthy: You can easily put a variety of ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning and come home to a hot and hearty meal. Healthy soups are made with a minimum of salt and fat, and a maximum dose of flavorful herbs, spices and vegetables. Eating soups can easily help you meet your daily recommendation of 5 cups vegetables and fruit each day. Lighten up cream soups by substituting reduced fat milk or evaporated milk for cream.

Budget Friendly: Less expensive, tougher cuts of meat often make the best soups! Simmering tough cuts helps to tenderize meats and adds flavor and body to soups. Freeze leftover soups to have on hand as a quick and easy meal on hectic days. You can also freeze soups in individual serving sizes to reheat in the microwave for lunch.

Simple Soups: When you’re in a hurry you can pump up the nutrition value of any canned soup by simply adding frozen vegetables. For example, add 1 cup Meijer frozen mixed vegetables to one can healthier canned soup.

Soup stretching ideas: You can almost always “throw something in” to use up leftovers or stretch the meal. Check your refrigerator and pantry for last-minute add-ins:

• Frozen corn, beans, peas or leftover cooked vegetables
• Leftover rice or pasta
• Chopped tomatoes or fresh salsa
• Coleslaw mix Spinach, bok choy or other greens
• Chopped leftover chicken, turkey, beef or ham
• Chopped up carrots, celery, peppers or onions
• Tomato or pasta sauce
• Grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
• Canned drained beans such as kidney, black or cannellini

Dress up your bowl or cup of soup with the following:

• Minced fresh herbs
• Chopped green onions
• Oyster crackers or fish-shaped crackers
• Melba toast or crackers with melted cheese
• Popcorn
• A dollop of plain Greek yogurt and a basil leaf

Satisfying Soup Recipes

Thick N’ Hearty Chicken Cheese Soup  -Makes 6 servings

• 1 cup carrots, shredded
• ¼ cup green onion, sliced
• 3 tbsps. Meijer butter or margarine
• ¼ cup Meijer all purpose flour
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1 (10-3/4 oz.) can fat free, reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1 (12.5 oz.) can Valley Fresh chicken
• 1 cup 2% shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 tsp. McCormick ground pepper

1. In a medium saucepan, cook carrots and green onion in hot margarine or butter about 10 minutes or until tender but not browned. Stir in flour. Slowly add milk, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper.
2. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Sir in chicken and cheese. Cook and stir over low heat until cheese melts. Serve hot.

Nutrition Information (per serving): 238 calories, 12g fat, 4g saturated fat, 51mg cholesterol, 572 mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 22g protein

Serve with: Dole Green Salad and Whole Grain Crackers

Black Bean and Mushroom Soup – Makes 6 servings

• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Meijer crushed tomatoes
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) pkg. fresh sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup Meijer Organics black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/8 tsp. McCormick ground pepper
• 2 cups fresh baby spinach
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. McCormick dried thyme
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 1/3 cup Meijer Organics garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups Meijer Naturals vegetable stock

1. Coat large Dutch oven or stock pot with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add onion, mushrooms, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme and pepper; cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
2. Add broth, spinach, tomatoes, chickpeas and black beans; bring to boiling. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.

Nutrition Information (per serving): Calories 150, Fat 2g, Cholesterol 0g, Sodium 418mg, Carbohydrates 23g, Fiber 7g, Protein 10g

Optional: Brown 2 cups sliced smoked turkey sausage with onions and mushrooms.

Serve with: Whole Grain Baguette and Fat Free Milk

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