https://maps.anxietycanada.com/courses/child-map/

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Mother’s day is a day that we set aside to celebrate our Mother’s. A time to appreciate ALL mother’s! Step Mother’s, Mother-in-Law’s, New Mother’s, Mother’s in waiting, Foster Mothers, Adoptive Mother’s, Single Mother’s, Mother’s with angel wings, and Mother’s with angels.

Mother’s help make our world a better place by helping to shape us into the person they know we can be.  They support us in achieving our goals and dreams and they comfort us when those dreams have set backs.  Mothers volunteer in our communities, at our schools, in our church, for our sports and arts. Mothers feed our bodies and our souls. Mothers support our friends and our friends mothers.

Don’t forget to appreciate all the Mom’s in your life, and that includes Aunts, Drag Mother’s, Father Mother’s, Team Mom’s, Dance Mom’s, Band Mom’s and the list goes on.

Our world is better place because you help make us better.

The post Happy Mother’s Day appeared first on Your Better Life.

Each of us is affected by the current world events and face some pretty daunting life challenges. Although it may seem that some have it better than others, we are all experience a wide array of emotions.  Our worries and fears are different, as each of us struggle with different stressors, some bigger than others, but all are valid regardless.

It’s important to acknowledge those worries, fears and stressors.  Recognize and name those feelings and give yourself permission to have them.  When we name that emotion, we claim it! Which can give us our power back and reduce the feeling of helplessness.  This small step can be a very powerful tool in regaining some element of control in our lives and propel us forward.  Moving forward is essential to overcoming life’s challenges.  Once we start moving forward, we can start to see some progress, and that little bit of progress can be the needed motivation to keep going.

Take time today to think about the emotions you are feeling right now, recognize them, name them, and own them.  Those are your first steps congratulations, you got this!

The post Do not stop moving appeared first on Your Better Life.

Some people will say you get through grief or suffer through trauma.  I would like to say we “Grow through grief” and we “Live through trauma”. Do we ever really get past it? Does it ever truly get left behind? I don’t think so.

Those key moment in our past stay with us, they shape who we are today. We are strong because we are living with what we’ve been through, moving from day to day carrying the grief and trauma with us. Don’t let that heavy burden bring you down, be proud of your success. You’ve made it through to today, celebrate your strengths and resiliency. Let them motivate you to keep going, and let it fuel you on the challenges you are facing today.

The post Let your past fuel you appeared first on Your Better Life.

A friend’s son recently moved back home so that he could afford to go back to school. He would often leave the kitchen a mess after making a meal. Once they had a conversation about the importance of cleaning up after yourself so everyone could enjoy the space, they have been able to enjoy time together with few disagreements. He recognizes the importance of cleaning up after himself and keeping the shared space enjoyable!

Kathy Watson

The post Enjoy your living space appeared first on Your Better Life.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves coming up with a SIMPLE way to help your teen athlete eat healthier. This message will NOT self-destruct in 5 seconds

As a parent, that IS your mission—whether or not you accept it. And it might seem to be, everything, but simple.

Between the junk food that always seems to be present, the fast-paced lifestyle that many teens choose, and the conflicting information on what healthy eating REALLY looks like, it can seem like MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

One way to bring clarity to this challenge is to understand the definition of nutrient-dense foods.

They are real foods—not chemically processed. Generally, very rich in necessary vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and healthy fats.

Choosing foods that are HIGH in nutrient-density is a similar notion to “getting the most bang for your buck.” It’s all about consuming foods that give you the most amount of health benefits, with the least amount of caloric intake.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at 5 nutrient-dense foods, what they offer, and easy ways to incorporate them into your teen’s weekly snacks and meals.

1) Berries—Nature’s Candy

Getting your athlete to eat more berries, is probably not THAT difficult because these colourful fruits satisfy the need for something sweet—and most teens are regularly reaching for sweet.

But don’t underestimate the power of nature’s answer to candy. Thanks to a large dose of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, berries can boost athletic health in these ways:

● Quicker recovery due to anti-inflammatory properties

● Help keep blood sugar levels more balanced, so there is no “crashing” during practice

● Improved memory

Besides packing them as a snack, you could try this “fun breakfast,” to start the day off right.

Overnight Oats

Mix equal parts of Greek yogurt, almond milk, and oats in a clear jar or container of your choice. Set in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, there is no need to cook. Just add fresh berries and honey to taste.

2) Egg Yolk

It’s time to “right the wrong” that has been done to the egg.

Science now shows that eggs are NOT responsible for causing high cholesterol. And taking it one step further, many of the significant health advantages are in the part of the egg that has often been tossed out—the yolk.

Include eggs in your athlete’s diet for these reasons:

● Improves brain health thanks to the choline in eggs

● Loaded with high-quality protein, which is essential for endurance and strength

● Full of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals for proper development and recovery

Hard Boiled on Hand

At the start of each week, make sure you have a dozen hard boiled eggs on hand. With a bit of salt and pepper, they make a filling and healthy snack.

Kids are more likely to choose them if they are readily available.

3) Raw Garlic

It’s not really a secret that garlic has many health benefits—it appears on most of the “superfood” lists out there.

This is because it is chock-full of vitamins B & C. It also boasts high levels of calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, and selenium.

But it is the active ingredient, Allicin— produced when it is minced or crushed—that provides powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that every athlete needs.

Also, fresh garlic:

● Promotes heart health needed for intense efforts

● Kills pathogens and bacteria, keeping colds at bay

● Is good for bone health, which adds protection from injury

Protective Cold Remedy

Want to boost your athlete’s immune system?

Peel and crush 6-10 garlic cloves and simmer in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Strain and then add the water to the juice of one lemon. Add honey, to taste.

Give this to your athlete at the start of a cold or when feeling run down.

4) Sprouts

Look past the salad-like quality of alfalfa sprouts because this flowering plant means business when it comes to health benefits.

A super-high concentration of vitamins and minerals translates into these valuable benefits:

● Reduces inflammation – thanks to high levels of vitamins C and B as well as calcium

● Improves digestion – because of the high dietary fibre content

● Protects the heart – thanks to high iron and potassium

Forget the Salad—Go For This Smoothie

Mix these ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Serve for breakfast or as a healthy, power-packed snack.

1 ½ cup of frozen mango

1 cup almond milk (or water)

½ cup of alfalfa sprouts

½ avocado (optional)

1 Tbs. honey or agave

1 Tbs. lime juice

5) Dark Chocolate

You probably won’t have any trouble convincing your athlete to partake in this treat.

Dark chocolate has high amounts of fibre and an abundant supply of iron, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Also, it is plentiful in antioxidants which combat the free radicals that can result from intense training.

Additionally, the cocoa in dark chocolate gives you these benefits:

● Lowers risk of heart disease

● Supports brain function

● Reduces blood pressure

A Square a Day…

Keep chocolate limited to one square a day to receive the benefits without adding too much sugar to your athlete’s diet.

Purchase chocolate with at least 70% cocoa for the best benefits.

There is Power in the Foods You Choose

In between the pizzas, late nights studying, french fries, ice cream, and hard-core training sessions, it IS POSSIBLE to deliver the kinds of nutrients that set your athlete up for success.

Look for power foods that are nutrient-dense to make a difference in their nutrition.

Now it’s your turn. Are there any crafty ways that you use to get your athletes eating better? Share in the comments.

You might just help another parent who is facing—what seems—to be Mission Impossible.

David Benzel

The post Is It Mission Impossible To Get Your Athlete to Eat Healthy Foods? appeared first on Your Better Life.

Fab Outlet

The long weekend is here and for most of us lucky west coasters -so is the beautiful weather! We teamed up with Fab Outlet in Vancouver, enjoy this 3 part series of hot designer summer looks, for less!

Daniela Butcura

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Food is meant to be enjoyed. It can be challenging to enjoy food and eat healthily. There are so many great meal plans out there, it can be hard to choose one. Start with one small change if you are not ready to make a significant shift. For example, this month, I’m going to work on incorporating more fibre into my diet. Where a friend of mine is working on decreasing the amount of sugar she consumes in a day. What is one controllable, achievable change that you can apply to your diet to make it healthier?

Kathy Watson

The post eating healthy is hard! appeared first on Your Better Life.

Energy, it’s something everyone needs at some point in the day. When I have that mid-day crash, I reach for my oils. So many essential oils have uplifting and energizing benefits. I love doing a drop of a citrus oil (wild orange) and an drop of mint oil (peppermint) into the palm of my hands. I cup my hands around my nose with my eyes shut and just take 3 deep inhales. Your senses get awakened. I then rub the back of my neck with my hands and get the cooling feeling. I find this is a great pick me up halfway through the day or even first thing in the morning!

Ryley Pinton

The post Energy appeared first on Your Better Life.

Give yourself three positive affirmations a day. Start with one at each meal. Positive affirmations can help you feel more successful and develop a stronger self image.

Kathy Watson

The post Evoke Strength and Success appeared first on Your Better Life.