-Protein is an important part of your diet but organic, free-range meats can be expensive. Fresh, organic, cage-free eggs can be a less expensive choice for organic protein.

-Grow your own fruits and vegetables! You’ll be in full control of how your plants are grown and save money.

-Shopping at your local farmer’s market can be a great way to get fresh, organic produce, often at reduced prices.

-Shop with a friend and buy in bulk. This allows you to share the cost on bigger items.

-Pay attention to to foods that are in and out of season. You will pay much more for foods that are out of season because they have higher shipping costs and demand. If you want a certain kind of food year-round, buy it in season and freeze it.

Check out more tips HERE!

1. Make your own red sauce – many store-bought sauces for pizza and spaghetti add a surprising amount of sugar. Making your own by simmering canned, chopped tomatoes on the stove with herbs you like can significantly reduce the amount of sugar.

2. Move the candy jar – What can be a welcome sight to your office visitors can be an unnecessary temptation for you. One piece of candy can easily lead to two more. Removing the temptation entirely is the best thing to do.

3. Eat whole fruit – Trying to use fruit products like fruit leather and juice drinks can seem like a healthy option, but they still can’t hold a candle to eating a piece of real fruit. A serving of whole fruit can satisfy your craving and add other nutrients to your diet.

4. Make your own salad dressing – Bottle, store-bought dressings, like sauces, are high in sugar. Making your own gives you the power to control the ingredients and amounts.

Visit this Article for other ideas on how to limit your sugar intake and live healthier.

Have a student interested in making a difference in their community? YAB is still recruiting new members for the 2012-2013 school year. Students from all the Buffalo County Schools, grade 7-12 are encouraged to apply. Applications are available now at the Community Partners and YAB web sites (bcchp.org and bcyab.org). The application deadline is June 1, 2012 and should be returned to Buffalo County Community Partners: P.O. Box 1466, Kearney NE 68848-1466. Call 308-865-2284 with questions!

• June 9th – Health Fair at the Kearney YMCA from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• June 18th – PhotoVoice Reception at the Frank House from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• June 29th – Community Partners Annual Fund Campaign Kicker’s Kick-Off at UNK’s Foster Field from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m

Activate Buffalo County, Kearney Public Schools, University of Nebraska at Kearney and Kearney Parks and Recreation want to encourage Buffalo County communities to make the choice to Unplug and be active during Screen-Free Week. Read a book, play a board game, take a walk or bike ride, or visit a museum. There are so many ways to be active, physically and mentally, and what better time to try than during National Screen-Free week!
You even have a chance to track your activities during the week and submit your form for a chance to win a prize! Visit activatebuffalocounty.org to download the tracking form and find more resources that can help you Unplug! Take the challenge today!

Andrea Rabe

Bob Huddleston

Terry Krohn

Elnida Chandler

Buffalo County Community Partners would like to introduce their newest board members: Andrea Rabe, APRN at Central Health Services, Bob Huddleston, Market President at Wells Fargo, Terry Krohn, Director of Two Rivers Public Health Department and Elnida Chandler, Site Manager of Crossroads Center Rescue Mission.
“The impact our organization has in the community is leveraged by the people who choose to serve on the Board of Directors,” said Denise Zwiener, Executive Director. “We are pleased to have a great group of new board members joining us in 2012. We look forward to the new relations we will build and impact that we will have together in building a healthier Buffalo County.”
Thank you Andrea, Bob, Terry and Elnida for your commitment to partnering with Community Partners!

This article lists 9 signs of the onset of Alzheimer’s, and while there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, the sooner you get diagnosed, the sooner you can slow its progression. Below are a few of the signs:

1. Memory loss – This is the hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s but, it is specifically short term memory loss that can signify Alzheimer’s. Not being able to recall recently learned information, such as the name of someone you just met, could be clue. Also if you begin to forget significant dates and events, ask for the same information over and over again, and are dependent on your reminders to get through your to-do list, these could be signs of Alzheimer’s.

2. Inability to judge distance – You find yourself slamming on the breaks at a traffic light to keep from hitting the car in front of you. Alzheimer’s can disrupt your brain’s ability to judge spatial relationships, mess up your understanding of what you see, and throw off your sense of time and space.

3. Loss for words – You may call a watch a hand clock, struggling to find the right word. Alzheimer’s causes you to have trouble expressing your thoughts, finding the right words, or following a conversation.

4. Less social – When group activities that used to be enjoyable no longer are appealing or fun, this could be a sign of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s affects how you interact with people, as well as causing you to become more easily upset, slightly depressed, and anxious or fearful for no specific reason.

View the full list of signs HERE.