At Home With Valerie

(BPT) - Road trips with your family, beach days with friends and solo hikes to ease your mind and enjoy the scenery — summer is one of the most exciting times to explore the outdoors. No matter where you live, there is something about summer that just makes you feel good, but how can you fuel good too? The most important item, next to water, is always a snack, and Registered Dietitian Marisa Moore weighs in on the perfect one that will elevate your next adventure. When it comes to outdoor bites, Marisa believes the perfect kind is one that's “portable and non-perishable but also one that provides energizing carbs plus protein and fiber for staying power.” If you’re looking for an energy boost and in need of options, almonds are the best go-to. “Almonds’ power-packed nutrition makes it easy to snack healthy – just one ounce (one handful) delivers 6g of natural, plant-based protein, 4g of filling fiber, 13g of good unsaturated fats and 1g of saturated fat,” says Marisa. “They are tru...

  How Buyers and Sellers Feel About Today's Housing Market (Family Features) In the hottest real estate market in a generation, homes are flying off the market at record pace, there’s fierce competition among buyers and there’s limited housing supply to meet growing demand. Many first-time buyers are wondering how they’ll be able to achieve their dreams of homeownership while many sellers are in a bind and asking, “How will I find my next home?” Leading digital real estate platform Opendoor has dug deeper into how the red-hot housing market is affecting Americans across the country. Now, it’s revealing the feelings of home buyers and sellers across generations, from Zillennials, the micro-generation born between 1993-1998, and Millennials to Generation X and Baby Boomers. Housing Optimism on the Horizon There’s no doubt about it: it’s a seller’s market. Most Americans predict the current state of the market will conti...

  (Family Features) Summer sun means it’s time for warm-weather fun for kids of all ages, and all that activity and playing calls for snacks and hydration to recharge. Whether your children like to play poolside or take a bicycle adventure through the neighborhood, the right nutrient-dense foods can keep the fun going all day long. For an option that quenches hunger (and thirst) without sacrificing nutrition, try an assortment of ways to enjoy watermelon. As a refreshing ingredient or standalone treat, watermelon includes just 80 calories and no fat while providing an excellent source of vitamin C (25%) and higher levels of lycopene (12.7 mg per 2-cup serving) – an antioxidant being studied for its role in sun protection – than any other fresh fruit or vegetable. Plus, it’s made of 92% water, meaning it’s a flavorful way to encourage kids to rehydrate during some fun in the sun. Make watermelon part of a balanced snack plate with this Kids Charcuterie Snack Board including asso...