Snacking is something just about everyone does. It’s hard to resist the urge to grab some snacks, especially during the summer when you are having fun and on the run. The problem is that many people grab the wrong types of snacks, which may work against their desire to be fit and fabulous. Far too often, people reach for sugary snacks, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can lead to health problems such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. For those who want to be fit and fabulous this summer, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the snack choices they make.

On a mission to help encourage those area families receiving benefits from the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program to establish healthy eating habits, The Doctor Yum Project, Farmers Markets and the Rappahannock Area Health Department are entering their second summer of offering families with young children access to free fresh produce all summer long. The program, which had a successful start last summer, has been funded for another season through the Virginia Department of Health. WIC participants can pick up their Produce Packs, free sample bags of fresh produce, during scheduled appointments through August 18, 2017 at participating local WIC offices.

June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day, and the perfect time for a discussion on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD affects millions of people and their families, and they can take comfort in knowing that there are treatments available that do work. The key lies in identifying the symptoms of the disorder and then getting the appropriate treatment.

“PTSD is a serious issue for the EOD family,” explains Nicole Motsek, executive director of the EOD Warrior Foundation. “There have been 16 years of war and multiple deployments that have taken a toll on our force and on their family members.”