Congratulations, Rethink Your Drink Challenge Participants! Our 6-week Rethink Your Drink Challenge has officially come to an end. More than 170 people participated in sipping smarter this summer. During this challenge, participants were asked to rethink their drinks by skipping sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) like soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and more and choosing water instead....
Back-to-school season is upon us and there are countless things you need to keep track of—sports, schedules, homework, activities, and so much more. One thing that shouldn’t add more stress to your plate is food shopping, preparing, and packing. But with so much to consider and so little time, these tasks can easily get away...
The summer season is the best time to get fresh produce—farmers markets, CSAs, and orchards are open and filled with fruits, vegetables, proteins, and more. Frederick County is home to more than 181,500 acres of farmland, so you can get locally sourced food while supporting your community. Using these products, you can make delicious, fresh,...
Summer is an exciting time for kids; three months without school to have fun and enjoy themselves. But with that freedom comes a challenge—how to spend the days? With so much time to fill, your kids may get bored of doing the same thing every day and resort to watching TV, playing video games, or...
May is Women’s Health Month and an opportunity to make healthy choices. With so much focus on work, chores, taking care of family, and more, healthy habits can sometimes be put on the back burner. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle goes further than eating well and working out—although those elements are extremely important. Improve your well-being...
Easter is a fun holiday filled with family, picnics, and egg hunts. But the Easter Bunny is also known to bring a lot of sugar-filled candy and sweets. Between jelly beans, peanut butter cups, and chocolate bunnies, you’re looking at a large dose of sugar. Eating too much sugar can lead to type 2 diabetes,...
Our 6-week Rethink Your Carbs Challenge is officially over, and so many of you have worked toward making healthier decisions and improving your health and well-being. It’s recommended to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. In this challenge, participants were tasked to increase their fruit and vegetable intake in fun...
Daylight saving time (DST) occurs twice yearly, in March and November. The purpose of DST is to make the most of natural light, since days in spring, summer, and early fall stay lighter longer compared to days in late fall and winter. While it may seem like an insignificant change, DST can actually affect your...
Everyone knows the foods we eat affect our physical health, but did you know they can also affect your mental health? For years, the medical field did not acknowledge the connection between mood and food. Diets high in processed foods and sugar have been linked to anxiety and depression, whereas diets high in whole foods—like...
The YMCA of Frederick County’s Head Start program provides comprehensive education, social, health, and nutritional services to eligible families in eight locations. Three- and four-year-old children can participate in educational experiences, field trips, activities, and health screenings. Children and families also receive transportation services, referrals for disability and mental health issues, and school transition services....
