We have been so blessed to be in the Midwest of the United States of America, that we are literally in the breadbowl of the world. If you can’t get healthy and stay healthy here, you’d be hard pressed to do it anywhere. Eat your fruits, eat your vegetables. It has been scientifically proven that what we eat and the quantity that we eat has a direct impact on so many facets of our health that we need to truly pay attention.

Our local farmer’s markets have everything that you would need or want fresh from the farm. In an effort that we don’t get caught up in the hype and literally flounder our way through a farmer’s market and blow our budget in the process, I recommend that you have your list in hand of what you think you want for your groceries for the week, search out your favorite vendors and purchase accordingly.

It’s also kind of fun to try something new and different. This is a great experience for children; as they walk beside you and get caught up in the moment, they are truly learning a skill set that will serve them the rest of their lives. Proper nutrition is huge. Obesity drives so many other health conditions that it is pitiful. Please take the opportunity to enjoy summer and all the options we have to be healthy.

If farmer’s markets are not your thing, don’t overlook the abundance and beauty of the produce department at our local grocery stores…Hy-Vee (and maybe others) happen to have on their website access to recipes, weekly menus, budgets, 30 meals for $3. They have dieticians in their stores, they have health screenings. They have healthy weight commitment programs, digital coupons, on and on and on…we are so blessed to have so many resources that truly I feel it’s a personal choice to do what’s best for us or not.

Starting April 1, 2014, if you did not assure yourself that you were insured for your health you are subject to the 2014 penalty. You can still purchase insurance between now and the end of the year. If you have a qualified event, you could use the SEP (Special Enrollment Period). If you are an employer insuring your employees, please don’t want until your renewal to investigate your options. We are an independent health insurance agency, 40 years strong, in Des Moines, Iowa, and are recognized as a top producer, again, in 2013 for Wellmark. Our quoting process is free and there is always room for improvement/discoveries that may put some dollars back in your pocket. Let’s start now to get ready for January 2015.