Posts by Laura Halpin

I’ve been fuming ever since I received a friend’s email last week sharing WW’s new family wellness app called Kurbo.  (You might not be aware that “WW” is the new name of Weight Watchers, a rebrand caused by a money-motivated distancing  from “dieting.”) Kurbo is an app that targets kids starting at 8 years old.…

I came across an interesting idea the other day. It was an Instagram 30-Day challenge that required participants to itemize at least three ways they failed every day for 30 days. I was completely intrigued. If you’re like most people (and if you’re like me), you don’t need any help focusing on failure. Because perfectionism…

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the events in our country or by your own life’s circumstances, you are not alone. In times of great tumult, we must cultivate a sense of steadiness within ourselves.  This can really only happen if we develop practices that help us stay sane and grounded. When we are overwhelmed and immobilized,…

I want to be clear: as a nutrition professional, I do not focus on weight loss. I don’t focus on weight loss because it’s just not all that interesting to me.  What’s interesting to me is the optimal functioning of my clients’ bodies and minds, which often does impact weight. Even so, although weight can…

If you’re looking to live a long life, lose weight, and reverse disease, the most important thing you can do is reduce your stress. It seems so obvious it’s easy to ignore on the way to a sexier headline-grabbing cure.   Our bodies’ priority is to survive. And since the body’s self-preservation resources are limited,…

I admit at the outset: I am not an expert on respiratory health. To be honest, aside from seasonal allergies and asthma, I haven’t thought much about lung health until these California fires. Yet I have friends who are still struggling with respiratory problems since the North Bay fires, and given the ongoing exposure to…

Just in case you were curious about this “latest” beverage trend, I though I’d give you the Kombucha scoop. Kombucha is a fermented sweetened tea made with a weird and slimy culture called a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast), also known as a “mother” or “mushroom.”  As a result of the fermentation process, kombucha…

Although I’m totally into it, I don’t assume that everyone has an interest in making his/her own fermented vegetables. Even though I make my own, there are many occasions when I purchase fermented veggies at the grocery store. Perhaps you do too. The video below gives you a quick run-down of what to look for when…

It’s not easy to let go. My son Simon just graduated from high school and he’ll be leaving the nest in one short month. It’s shocking just to see it in writing as I type. Ugh. The picture above is Simon climbing, something he does most days. I’m happy that I don’t watch very often, because…