Access to quality food is essential for healthy physical and mental function, especially in the development and growth of children. Eating balanced meals is a great way to incorporate vitamins and minerals into everyday eating and helps promote healthy eating habits in the long run. Forming healthy eating habits and consuming a wide variety of food is very important in early stages of life, especially during the formative years of childhood. Eating a wide variety of food is a good way to ensure that the body is getting essential vitamins and minerals for growth and maintaining health.           A great way to optimize health and get needed vitamins and minerals is to make sure each meal is well-balanced. A well-rounded meal includes a variety of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, different sources of protein, and healthy oils. Healthy eating patterns also involve limiting saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and excess sodium. Nutrient-dense foods are also i

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), food insecurity is when healthy food intake and eating patterns become disrupted due to lacking access to quality foods or resources (Nord et al., 2005). Healthy diets are critical for optimal mental and physical functions, even when it is hard to make ends meet. At the HIGH Program, our mission is to provide financially struggling students with the resources and assistance, so they don’t have to sacrifice their dreams of obtaining their degree. No one should need to choose between a healthy meal and a place to be warm through the night. We have put together resources to make it easier to find local food banks and food pantries in your area.      Let us start with the difference between food banks and food pantries. Knowing the difference will help determine proximity to quality food. It also may help shorten the time between arriving at the site and receiving food. Food Bank - A food bank is an organization where food i

While donating goes a long way, there are also other ways to give back or help us on our mission to connect financially struggling students with the resources needed to follow their dreams of attaining a degree. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and help a cause that you’re passionate about. There are also many other reasons why volunteering benefits both you and the organization where you’re volunteering. Here is a list of reasons why you should try volunteering. It’s a great way to give back Volunteering provides the volunteer opportunities to give back to a cause without donating money or supplies. Donating time is the most valuable resource you can give an organization that you believe in. No task is too small, and some organizations operate solely on volunteer work, so any help is always appreciated. It’s a great way to add to your resume or portfolio Volunteering is a great way to get in-field experience that you can add to your resume. Whether in the sam

          The dawning of Spring brings warmer weather, greenery, and floral blooms. The Spring also brings the opportunity to form new habits. Many people have the Spring ritual of decluttering, also known as spring cleaning. Whether or not it is already on your list of things to do this year, here are some benefits of decluttering your space and life. 1. Decluttering helps you feel more comfortable in your space Clutter usually means that you are confined to certain available areas in your space. In a study, Ferrari et al. (2017; 2018) revealed that excessive clutter reduced comfort and everyday experiences because of limited access to space and objects. 2. Decluttering helps with focus In addition to being able to access objects and spaces in your area, a clutter-free space also allows you to focus more. Physical environments can strongly influence our cognition and emotions. Fewer objects around you also mean fewer distractions. Visual clutter can reduce your ability to focus, visua

     With the Spring Equinox arriving, the season is changing, and the weather is getting warmer. But the end of March also brings the stress of midterms and major deadlines. Although many may think studying and reading as much as possible is the best way to finish the first half of the semester, professionals have a different opinion. Taking breaks and getting outdoors offers many psychological and physical benefits, helping cognitive capacity and mental health.      According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is not merely the absence of mental disorders or disabilities, it also involves the ability to cope with and handle the stresses of life (WHO, 2018). Mental health is our collective ability to think, interact with others, and express emotions. With the demands of midterm exams and deadlines, it’s important to recognize when the stresses are interfering with your mental health and that it’s okay to step away for a moment.      It may feel hard to justify takin

On February 24, 2022, the world watched in horror as Russia invaded the neighboring country of Ukraine. Since the attacks began, over 3 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, and tens of thousands have been killed (Ukraine Refugee Situation, 2022). Most of the refugees have fled to the surrounding countries of Poland, Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Hungary. Moreover, the number of people remaining in Ukraine without access to electricity and gas supplies is increasing, with an estimated 960,000 families without electricity and 264,000 families without gas (Situation Ukraine Refugee Situation, 2022). Humanitarian efforts are of the utmost importance in Ukraine and surrounding countries.           But how do we help Ukraine? With the UN ordering Russia to halt attacks and many countries enforcing sanctions against Russia and Putin, it may feel like any attempted effort at helping will be minuscule, but that’s not true. People in Ukraine and surrounding countries still n

  Homelessness in the United States is on the rise, and the homeless population has steadily increased since 2014. Homeless shelters in the US have become essential and provide food, shelter, and other necessities to the homeless population. Unfortunately, homeless shelters are historically underfunded. Because these shelters provide their services for free, they rely on donations to function. The percentage of Americans donating to charity dropped at the start of the pandemic, but it is important to remember that your fellow people are still in need. If you can’t afford to donate money, here are a few things you could donate to your local homeless shelter. Clothing. If you have any clothing (men’s, women’s, or children’s) that you have outgrown or no longer wear, consider donating to a homeless shelter, rather than throwing them out or donating them to a thrift store where they have to be repurchased. Make sure that these clothes are still in good condition, and that they are washe