Coach Maggie 4 Health 

One of the best ways to stretch your budget and get fit is to eat most of your meals at home.

1. You can control the quality of ingredients that go into your food. By choosing organic and non-GMO foods, you'll end up with a healthier, satisfying meal that your body will appreciate.

2. You will save money. Eating at home costs considerably less than eating out. You can cook a steak, twice backed potato and salad for what a specialty hamburger and fries would cost at a medium priced restaurant. Also, you'll save on the gas to get there.

3. You'll eat less. The portions you eat at home are typically smaller than the ones served when you eat out. This is especially true for women because restaurants give equal portion sizes to men and women, but at home most women eat smaller portions.

As you can see there are a lot of good reasons to eat at home. Just save eating out for those special occasions. Can you think of other reasons it's better to eat at home? Share them with us.

1. Smiling reduces stress and anxiety. It improves your health and lowers your heart rate.

2. When your smile, you release endorphins, the chemical that makes you feel happy. Endorphins are also released when you work out or run.

3. Smiling makes you more attractive. You appear approachable and easy going. You're more likely to be accepted into a group of strangers with a smile on your face. It also improves your credibility.

4. Smiling can strengthen your immune system. Your body produces more white blood cells to help fight disease.

5. Smiling is contagious. When you smile at a stranger, they're likely to smile back. You appear more social and improve your surroundings...

You want to hear something crazy? Even when you force a smile, you'll experience those benefits...

It's that time of the year when our kids are heading back to school. It's exciting, but it can also be hectic. When children have a rough morning at home, they often carry that stressful emotion to school. It can impact how they get along with other kids and negatively affect their class work.

You can often tell if a child's day started out well by how they carry themselves. Being proactive and planning in advance will guarantee that your child has the best possible chance for success.

The key to a great day starts the night before. These simple tips will help make your life and theirs much easier:

The night before:

1. Make lunches (theirs and yours) immediately after dinner.
2. Get backpacks filled and ready to go and put them in their designated spot.
3. Have your kids take baths or showers.
4. Lay out clothes.
5. Turn off all electronics at least one hour before turning in.
6. Talk with kids about any fears or concerns they might have.

7. Pray with your child.

8. Get to bed early...