Category: Health and Wellness

Everyone knows that meal prepping is a great way to save calories and money, but getting started is always the hardest part! We put together a few healthy meal options that are perfect for busy work days to keep you on track with your health goals and keep your wallet happy too.

• First, Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich. Substituting Greek yogurt for Mayo is an easy calorie savor and just as delicious.
• Next, Korean Beef Meal Prep bowls for a light, yet filling lunch.
• Veganism is popular within the health community; see what all the plant hype is about and try these Vegan Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells for a fun twist on traditional pasta dishes.

If you’re looking for healthier meal options without the prep, there are 10 dining halls on campus available to you. Menus are updated online and note gluten-free, vegetarian and dairy-free options. Other on-campus dining includes the Food Truck, Crossroads Food Court in the International Center and The Union Food Court.

MSU Food Truck

Almost every building on campus also has a Sparty’s location. Each Sparty’s has different options, some ranging from full grills, to quick snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day. See where the closest Sparty’s is to you. In addition to these, there are also 4 Starbucks locations: Wells Hall, Broad College of Business, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and the New 1855 Place.

1855 Place is now home to the Sparty’s Market! This location features prepared foods and grill items, pre-packaged and self-serve bulk foods, a bakery station with coffee and fountain drinks, a dairy case, deli sandwiches, hot breakfast dishes, a wide variety of dry grocery items, health and beauty needs, household items and more.

1855 Place Sparty’s Market

We hope you and your wallet enjoyed these recipes and added a little spice to your everyday meals.

This is a guest post written by the WorkLife Office. Visit their website for more information.

When people at MSU talk about the WorkLife Office, it’s not surprising when they often add “balance” to the end of our title. One of the major roles of our office is to help MSU faculty and staff find the resources they need to juggle their multiple responsibilities – at work and in their personal lives. But what about this concept of “balance”? Is it just a myth, or does it really exist?

Here’s what we tell people: it’s time to rethink the idea of balance. More often than not, balance doesn’t mean your time is evenly split between work and personal life. Balance is more about a feeling – do you feel gratified or overwhelmed (or somewhere in between) by your work and life responsibilities? More and more, we see a unique blending of time and focus between these worlds. Work and life are not mutually exclusive realms. Who we are at work is not separate from who we are at home and vice versa.

If we check our work email at home, or take a personal call while we are at work, it does not mean that we have failed at work-life balance. It just means that we are humans with many intersecting identities that make us the unique individuals that we are.

Here are some quick tips about work-life balance:

1. Rethink “balance” – it’s not always a 50/50 split. Sometimes work is more intense and other times our personal lives require more of our focus.
2. Reflect on your work-life habits – notice if you prefer to keep work and your personal life separate, or if you prefer a blended model. Don’t try to force yourself into a different work style – find the one that works for you and your productivity.
3. Consider work-life stressors – take note of the types of projects, or times of year when you feel the most overwhelmed. When you begin documenting these, you are more able to plan for them in the future.

Pro-tip: schedule a consultation with the WorkLife Office to help you identify your work-life balance needs. Call 517-353-1635 or email worklife@msu.edu.

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, most often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunshine or tanning beds that lead to the formation of malignant tumors. Thankfully, melanoma is highly curable when discovered early. That being said, it is also much more likely than other forms of skin cancer to spread if left untreated.

Risk Factors

While melanoma only accounts for about one percent of all skin cancers, it accounts for the vast majority of skin cancer deaths. Risk factors include a weakened immune system, fair skin or having a large number of moles, as well as family history.

But the most common cause of melanoma is exposure to UV light. A history of sunburns, particularly during childhood, or excessive exposure to sunlight, may increase an individual’s likelihood of developing melanoma.

Prevention Tips

• Always seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Do not allow your skin to burn.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Apply sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Examine your skin from head-to-toe for moles every month.

With your Best Doctors benefits, a meticulous review of your medical case gives you an easy-to-understand report that either confirms your diagnosis and treatment or recommends a change. If you have concerns about melanoma or the effect of UV rays, Best Doctors is your one-stop shop for eliminating uncertainty and getting additional guidance on your health and wellness.