Sarah Bishop
I’m a writer and bookworm who loves learning and writing about the latest health and wellness topics. Like a true Gemini, I’m a walking dichotomy. I like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, but I also like ice cream, fried chicken, and cheese. So, I’m always fighting the good fight. As the mom of two little girls, I strive to model healthy habits that my daughters will carry with them for life.

Find Your Zen: Identifying Your Stress Triggers and Coping Techniques

A young woman smells some small flowers while doing some gardening.
What’s stressing you out these days? Your endless to-do list? Bills? Your health or the health of a loved one? Your kids? The current state of the nation? If you’re a professional worrier like myself, it’s all of the above. And based on current statistics about Americans and stress, clearly I’m not alone. Although stress is a normal part of your body’s reaction to any demand or threat (and can be a powerful motivator),...
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How an Independence Blue Cross Health Coach Can Help You

Health Coach taking a call on a phone headset
I recently interviewed Lisa Lokuta, RN, BSN, a Health Coach in the Independence Blue Cross Case and Condition Management department to get some insight into health coaching. IBX: What is a Health Coach? Lisa: Independence Health Coaches are specially-trained, registered nurses with an average of 8 to 11 years of clinical service. Independence has more than 90 Health Coaches on staff to help our members navigate their health....
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Desktop Detox

Open laptop on a messy, cluttered desk
I’ve never been a very big fan of New Year’s resolutions. To me, they seem like half-hearted attempts to reinvent yourself in an over-the-top (and wholly unrealistic) way. Everyone starts with ambitious plans to overhaul their life and become a whole new person, only to be back to old habits in a few weeks’ time. That said,...
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Nutrition and Meal Planning for Type 2 Diabetes

sautéing veggies
Consider for a minute that more than 30 million Americans have diabetes. That means there are more Americans with diabetes than the total population of Australia! The good news is diabetes can be managed through diet and lifestyle. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information out there to help people with diabetes manage their disease. To help navigate that information,...
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Send Your Child Back to School with Healthy Lunches and Snacks

School Snack
Like most parents I know, I’m always on a quest to feed my kids healthy lunches and snacks, while still keeping things interesting. Luckily, I recently spoke to registered dietitian Danielle Burge, who shared some great advice about keeping things healthy and interesting when meal-planning for kids. I was pleasantly surprised to find that her philosophy is realistic,...
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Game On: 6 Sports Safety Tips for Student-Athletes

Sports safety tips for student-athletes.
According to a National Council of Youth Sports survey, more than 40 million young athletes ages 6 – 18 participate in organized sports. And while there are countless benefits to organized sports, there are also the inevitable injuries that come with the territory. I recently spoke with Ron M. Hillian, MS, of EXOS, Human Performance about tips to keep student-athletes as healthy as possible....
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Savoring the Sweetness of the Season: Lighter Desserts for the Summer

There’s something about summertime and dessert that just seems to go hand-in-hand. Summer is full of carefree, lazy days, late nights outside with delayed bedtimes, and fun-filled vacations where rules and routines are relaxed. Some of my fondest summer memories involve ice cream cones dripping down my wrists, the sweet taste of freshly picked strawberries for homemade strawberry shortcake,...
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Is Your Salad Dressing Sabotaging Your Salad?

Keep your salad as healthy as possible with healthy salad dressings.
Picture this: it’s Friday at noon and you’re ready to treat yourself to a lunch out after a long week of brown-bagging it. You join your coworkers at the new restaurant in town, and when they all order burgers and fries, you muster every last ounce of willpower and order the salad. You silently pat yourself on the back for ordering wisely and choosing the healthy option....
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Here Comes the Sun: How to Keep Your Kids Protected

Tips on how to protect your kids from the sun.
If you’ve ever seen beach pictures from the 1950s, ’60s, or ’70s, you know that sunbathing was all the rage. People would lay out slathered in baby oil while holding metallic UV reflectors in an attempt to get bronzed skin. Luckily, we’ve come a long way since then, and most people today are fully aware of the damaging effects that the sun can have....
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Always Be Prepared: Creating a Family Emergency Plan

As the daughter of an Eagle Scout, I was raised with the motto “Always be prepared” on continuous repeat. My siblings and I always teased our father for his relentless reminders to prepare for any and all scenarios, but the truth is, being prepared has served me well in life. When you’re prepared, you can avoid the fear and panic that comes with facing an unforeseen circumstance....
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