The AYB dietitians sit down with Melanie Morgan, dietitian at Convoy of Hope. Melanie has struggled with the tick-transmitted illness, alpha-gal, for the last year. She is committed to spreading awareness about the syndrome, helping people find resources to manage it, as well as offering tips for thriving while affected.

Veggies- some of us love them, some of us do not. What determines if someone likes certain foods in adulthood? What can you do if you're trying to expand your palate to accept new foods? The dietitians discuss the importance of veggies, practical tips for making veggies more delicious, and ways to improve your veggie variety!

Feeling like you don't trust your appetite cues? Not sure what "hungry" or "full" is supposed to feel like? Let's dive into the science behind hunger and fullness. What causes it? What can impact it? What are some practical ways to practice getting in tune with your appetite? The AYB dietitians break it down!

When most people think of creatine, they think of gym bros with big muscles or elite athletes in power-sport events. But what if creatine could be helpful for you too? There's a growing body of research showing that creatine could be beneficial for a variety of populations. Curious about safety, dosing, and health impacts? Listen to this episode to learn more!

Let's forecast some trends for 2025! Each year the American College of Sports Medicine puts out a trend forecast of fitness-related topics. Trainer, Adrianne, joins the dietitians for discussion of each topic. What will be most popular this year for you?

Did you know that AYB is one of few facilities in Southwest MO that offers a VO2 Max test? This test is regarded by many as the "gold standard" for cardiovascular wellness. The dietitians discuss the testing procedure, science behind the test, and how you can use the results to improve your training and your general health.

This episode is a continuation of the conversation with Coach John Perry about getting really good at the basics and establishing your fundamentals when it comes to your health journey. Amanda, Anthony, and Ryleigh talk about how these mindset shifts can be applied to wellness and how you can set yourself up for long term success when life gets hectic. We talk you through establishing your personal fundamentals and discuss what those could look like in terms of nutrition, movement, and social engagement to keep balance in your life.

Link to the Kobe Bryant video mentioned in the episode: https://youtu.be/Zi5KED3gLJo?si=FIUFNUWllcdoa0tq

The dietitians and Maria sit down with special guest, Coach John Perry of the Nixa High School Football Program. John is a certified Mental Performance Coach, and prioritizes mental health in his athletes. He shares with us his journey through football, coaching, producing well-rounded and emotionally mature athletes, as well as his fundamentals for their streak of winning seasons. You don't want to miss this! Check out his website and podcast at neverstopgettingbetter.net

We have a special guest with us on the podcast today. Local Farmer Colt Hawkins joins Cassie, Maria, and Ryleigh to tell us all about his farm, his passion behind it, and how you can get connected. Colt has built his farm from the ground up and his tests many ways to bring unique, pesticide-free produce to the Ozarks.

Check him out at Red Top Crops on Instagram and Facebook.

We often refer to food as fuel or medicine, but food can also have emotional ties. Emotional eating can be a major obstacle between feeling stuck and finding freedom from the restrictions of a diet mentality that effect your relationship with food. Ryleigh, Cassie, and Anthony unpack ways to help you take care of yourself and your feelings in practical ways and walk through an exercise to help you get to a deeper understanding of how you process your emotions.