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Healthy Living Podcasts You Should Listen To

In search of a new podcast? Want content related to healthy living? Check out these examples of great healthy living podcasts:

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

In this series, host Gretchen Rubin shares her secrets to living a happy life – something all of us can learn from. Most episodes include Rubin’s co-host, Elizabeth Craft, and the pair share practical advice and insights into making the most out of every situation. If you’re looking for a healthy living podcast that focuses on emotional wellness and mental positivity, Happier will fit the bill.

The Wellness Mama Podcast

Katie Wells hosts this weekly podcast for women and mothers who want to live a healthier life. Every episode features an expert guest and covers some kind of health topic, from sleep and emotional wellness to organizational skills, exercise tips, and much more. If you’re looking for a podcast you can pick up any time, focusing on one specific issue and diving deep, The Wellness Mama is a great choice for you.

The Psychology of Eating

Marc David’s The Psychology of Eating focuses on helping clients transform their relationship with food using his unique blend of psychology and nutritional advice. Whether it’s binge eating, emotional eating, or the inability to lose weight, you’ll hear real-life people work through their issues with food during each episode. Recent episodes cover topics like ethical veganism, bulimia, and finding a natural relationship with eating.

The Model Health Show

Creator and host of The Modern Health Show, Shawn Stevenson, interviews experts and also does solo episodes covering all sorts of health-related issues. Topics include stress, weight loss, brain health, financial health, self-empowerment, and much more. The podcast makes even in-depth medical and health information easy to understand for the layperson, and its wide range of topics make it suitable for just about anyone interested in health and wellness.

The Doctor’s Kitchen

Covering topics about food, medicine, lifestyle, and the points at which they intersect, The Doctor’s Kitchen from host Dr. Rupy Aujla explores how to live your healthiest life. Episodes include subjects like mental wellbeing, building good fitness habits, and nutritional medicine, so you’re getting a wide range of subject matter to enjoy. Explore more here.

Transform Your Health

Whether you’re looking for inspiration in your own health journey or you’re just interested in a new perspective, give some of these podcasts a try.

Vending Inventory Ideas by Location: Apartment Complexes

Apartment complexes have long been a prime spot for vending machines. These locations are full of people who are coming and going frequently, whether they’re heading to work, picking the kids up from school, or running errands. And those people often need something quick and easy to snack on while in transit.

Here are some great inventory ideas for your vending machines in apartment complexes:

Snack Bars

Granola bars and other kinds of snack bars are tried-and-true vending machine inventory items, and for good reason. They’re easily portable, packed with protein, easy to eat with little mess, and delicious. Apartment complex residents can rely on snack bars as a quick pick-me-up between errands, or as a full breakfast when needed. Be sure to keep your machines stocked with snack bars, as they’re sure to be hot sellers.

Packaged Salads

Many people who live in apartment complexes visit the vending machines to pick something up for lunch on the way to work, or while they’re running home on their lunch break. For consumers looking for something a little healthier, a packaged salad is a great addition. Consumers can take the salad with them to the office and store it in the break room until lunch, or take it to their apartment if they’re eating at home.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are full of fiber, which helps us to feel full faster. That’s what makes them a great vending machine inventory item – consumers can grab a quick snack to hold them off between meals. And nuts and seeds are easy to eat on the road, too.

Drinks

Consumers like to grab a healthy juice in the morning on the way to work or a bottle of water before they head to the gym after office hours. Drinks are a consistently high seller in vending machines no matter where they’re located, and apartment complexes are no exception. Make sure to keep your machines well-stocked with drinks and juices of all sorts.

Let Us Help With Machine Placement

One of the great things about choosing Naturals2Go as your healthy vending machine partner is our location procurement service. We’ll help you scout and identify the top locations for your machines in your area. Learn more about our services and get in touch with a member of our team today.

Healthy Eating Series: What Are Superfoods?

Spend some time in the healthy living space and you’re bound to hear the word “superfood” sooner or later. While it’s not an official nutritional or medical term and is in fact more of a marketing creation, superfoods are nonetheless very real. But what exactly is a superfood, and what are some examples? Let’s take a closer look at superfoods and why you’ll want to include them in your diet.

What is meant by “superfood?”

The term “superfood” refers to any food that is rich or dense in nutrients and potentially has the capacity to affect one’s health positively. In short, it’s any food that is very good for you with almost no nutritional detriment.

What are some examples of superfoods?

There is no definitive list of foods that are superfoods and those that aren’t. But there are a few common examples of the top superfoods. They include:

- - - - Dark green leafy vegetables – Veggies like kale, collard greens, and Swiss chard fall into the dark green leafy vegetable category, and they’re considered superfoods because of their dense nutrient profile. These vegetables are jam-packed with nutrients like zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin C, folate, and fiber.
      - Salmon – Salmon is one of the healthiest fishes you can eat. It’s packed with healthy fats, protein, potassium, and selenium. Salmon also contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation around the body and aid in your skin and hair health.
      - Berries – Blueberries are often thought of as a superfood, but the truth is that a variety of berries including raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, and strawberries are also very good for us. They are very high in antioxidants, which can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and a variety of other inflammatory conditions.
      - Nuts and seeds – Common nuts and seeds like almonds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, pistachios, walnuts, and others are chock-full of fiber, heart-healthy fats, and antioxidants. They are calorically dense, however, so it’s important not to go overboard.

Why are superfoods important to include in your diet?

It’s obvious why it’s a good idea to include superfoods like those listed above in your diet. They’re very good for you. Including these foods as key players in a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to get yourself and your family the proper nutrition in every meal.

Feed Your Family With Superfoods

This week, try some recipes that include superfoods. Or, just snack on some between meals to give yourself that extra nutritional boost. Your body will thank you!

Career Advice I Would Give My Younger Self

In business and in life, with age comes experience and wisdom. For all of us, there are probably lessons we would like to pass down – to our younger selves if it were possible! Here are a few pieces of career advice most people would probably like to give to their younger selves:

Trust Your Gut

That gut instinct you have when it comes to a career opportunity, or a bad fit, or a toxic boss? You should trust it. Your gut instinct is a very real indicator of whether something is positive or negative for you. Don’t force yourself into a bad move because it seems like the right thing on paper, or because it will look good or impress your family or friends. Do what’s right for you and your career, and believe in yourself – you know what’s best for you and your work life.

Build Career Skills Early

From internships in college to mentorships at your first job to simply asking for advice from more experienced coworkers, it’s always a good idea to start building your career skills early. You can always learn something, and the more knowledge and experience you gain early on, the better of you’ll be regardless of where you want to take your career.

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

Whether it’s not having a particular skill, having only X number of years of experience compared to what’s listed in the job description, or tricking yourself into thinking someone else can do the job better, we all tend to sell ourselves short sometimes. While it’s important to be realistic about the skills we have and what we can contribute, it’s also vital that you don’t sell yourself short. Be upfront about your qualifications and experience, as well as your ability to learn and grow. For many, it’s the ability to adapt and become successful that’s far more powerful than any experience or specific skill set.

Define Your Own Success

Realize that “success” means different things to different people. For some, it’s about making a certain monetary figure. For others, it’s about having freedom outside of their work life. For others, it’s about family. Success is completely what you want it to be – figure out what it means to you early on in your career and don’t waver when trying to achieve it.

Become an Entrepreneur With Us

Interested in a dynamic, exciting entrepreneurial opportunity? Naturals2Go might be the perfect fit. Contact a member of our team today to learn more about healthy vending and how to jumpstart your career.

Learn From an Experienced Player/Coach – Vending Business Coaches That Run Their Own Vending Business

In sports, many of the most successful coaches have actively played the game in the past. The experience earned from being on the field can be invaluable and leads to better decision-making and optimal results as a coach.

The same is true in business. Often, the best business coaches are the ones that have been in the field, running their own businesses. Someone that has launched their own business, managed challenges and hurdles, overcame obstacles, scaled their business effectively, and created a well-oiled machine.

That’s exactly why at Naturals2Go, we have built our entire coaching and success team around proven and successful vending business operators. Not only that, the Naturals2Go leadership team is comprised of vending business operators as well. That real-world, in the field experience is a big reason why Naturals2Go has been name the Best Business Opportunity by the Franchise Brokers Association for 10 consecutive years!

“While we take great pride in offering the industry’s leading vending machines, the real secret to our Owner-Operator’s success is our tenured leadership, business consulting and coaching teams,” said Heath Falzarano, Naturals2Go President. “Each of our leaders and coaches are vending business operators themselves. They have been in the field running their own successful businesses and are able to share wisdom and guidance you can’t find anywhere else.”

From the Opening Kick-Off to Celebrating the Wins

Imagine launching a business and having someone that has done it themselves guide you the entire way. You don’t have to make any mistakes yourself. You can learn from a leadership and coaching team that has “been there, done that.” You can follow a proven program that has worked time and time again. You can be reassured knowing that someone is waiting and ready to help answer any of your questions.

That’s the support and the proven program of success you get from Naturals2Go.

Are you ready to partner with player/coach that has your back? Contact Naturals2Go today.

Quiz: How Healthy Am I?

Overall health can vary by person—there’s no one perfect picture of health that applies to everyone. With that being said, there are a few benchmarks for both physical and mental health that you should be keeping up with. If you don’t think about your health very often, it might be time to do a little self-assessment.

When you’re thinking about how healthy you are, ask yourself these questions:

How often do you take time for yourself?

Think about your work-life balance. How often do you step away from work and simply take time for yourself? How often do you get to do things you enjoy, like your hobbies or spending time with friends and loved ones? When you’re overworked or don’t get enough time to yourself to focus on what makes life worth living, you run the risk of developing burnout.

Do you feel good about yourself?

Do you feel good about the person you are? What you present to the world? How others perceive you? Your own self-image is extremely important. If you see yourself in a negative light, you’ll be putting out negativity, which won’t get you very far. It becomes a vicious cycle that can be quite tough to break out of. So make sure you’re feeling good about yourself on a day-to-day basis.

Do you have short- and long-term goals?

It’s tough to stay positive about the future when you don’t have goals to strive for. Putting concrete goals in place gives you something to work toward in manageable chunks. Wandering aimlessly through your life and career is far less likely to make you happy.

Do you pay attention to your diet?

How often do you think about what you eat and what it’s offering to your body? Do your best to stay away from excess sugars and fats, and eat wholesome, natural foods that align with the latest proper diet guidelines. While it’s important that you don’t obsess over food, it’s also advisable to strike a healthy balance between eating what you like and what offers the nutrition that your body desperately needs.

Do you exercise regularly?

You don’t have to run marathons in order to stay healthy through regular exercise. Even going for a daily walk is better than nothing. But if you’re doing zero physical activity every day, it’s not good for you. It’s time to get moving—exercise is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy throughout life.

Live Better Through Good Health

Taking the time to think about your own health is very important. If you feel you could improve in some areas of your life, now is the time to do it. You’ll thank yourself later!

What Should I Expect in My First Year of Business?

Recently, we’ve covered what to accomplish before starting a new business. But what should you expect after you’ve started? Say, within your first year? Here are three things to expect during the first year you get your business off the ground:

#1: You’ll have doubts.

Rest assured that you’ll doubt yourself (and your entire business) at some point or another within the first year. Most likely, it will occur multiple times. You might be doubting yourself the whole time, in fact. And that’s okay. Getting a new venture off the ground is stressful and it’s easy to get down on yourself when the numbers aren’t where you expected them to be, or when your sales aren’t hitting the way you thought they might. Stay the course and trust your instincts—remember that business take some time to succeed, and it doesn’t happen overnight.

#2: You’ll think you can do it all by yourself.

Because you’re excited about your business, you’re going to want to oversee every inch of it and you might even become a bit of a control freak about it. But you may learn that you can’t do it all by yourself. And if you obsess to the degree of burnout, you’re shooting yourself in the foot—you’ll become less productive and it can start to affect your business in a negative way. So, while the answer might not be hiring your first employee or outsourcing to a contractor, it’s important to remember to not push yourself too hard. In the long run, tackling what you can and avoiding burnout is what’s important.

#3: You’ll adjust as you learn more.

The first year of your business is a learning period. You’ll adjust as needed as you get more and more familiar with the way your business functions and what your customers are looking for. Being aware ahead of time that you don’t know everything and that you’ll learn as you go is always recommended.

Get Your Business Off the Ground With Naturals2Go

When you partner with Naturals2Go, you can launch your entrepreneurial journey in the healthy vending space and find success fast. And because we help with hands-on training, location scouting, and more, some of the pressure of starting a new business is taken off your shoulders. Contact us today to learn more.

Healthy Eating Series: Dinner Ideas for Families

If your family is like most, you’re constantly on the go, moving in different directions and struggling to find time for those crucial family dinners. So, when you do have the opportunity to sit down together as a family, you want to make the most of it. You want something that’s easy to make, but also nutritious and delicious.

Here are four healthy and easy dinner ideas for families:

Chicken and Veggie Stir-Fry

For a more personalized approach on Chinese takeout, try this chicken and veggie stir-fry recipe for your next family dinner. Packed with protein from the chicken and healthy vitamins and minerals from your favorite veggies, this dinner is as nutritious as it is tasty. Classic Chinese ingredients like ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce make it a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that the whole family will love.

Black Bean Burgers

Burger night is sure to be a hit in your household. If you want to keep it healthy, opt for this black bean burger recipe. By using binding ingredients like breadcrumbs, eggs, and ketchup, these burger patties hold their shape and are never mushy. And you can bake or grill the patties, depending on your preference. Then, simply top with your favorite burger additions on whatever bun you like best, and you have a delicious meal for adults and kids alike.

Lightened Mac-n-Cheese

Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? Unfortunately, it’s not one of the healthiest options for family dinner. But that’s where this lightened mac-n-cheese recipe comes in. By using skim milk, low-fat cheeses, and sour cream rather than heavy cream and crazy amounts of butter, you get all the tastiness of the mac and cheese you love without the excess fat and calories. And it’s sure to be a hit with the kids. Get the recipe here.

Sheet Pan Fajitas

These simple and delicious sheet pan fajitas come together in a half hour or less. Opt for juicy chicken breast or delicious steak, depending on your preference, or include both to satisfy every family member’s cravings. Include delicious veggies like onions and peppers, and add in avocado, sour cream, and salsa for that extra-special touch. See the recipe here.

Make Your Next Family Dinner a Hit

Fast, easy, delicious dinners that every member of the family will appreciate—that’s what you’re looking for when it comes to healthy dinner recipes. Try out the above options for your next family dinner and wait for the compliments to roll in.

Protecting Your Business Investment and Your Future

The world was already changing at a rapid pace. Then, a global pandemic forced change into hyper-drive. While some businesses adapted quickly, others took huge financial hits and were forced to board their doors for good.

However, as history has proven time and time again, hardships and rapid change can be the beginning of something great when companies have the right plans and leadership in place.

“FedEx, Microsoft, and even Google were launched during recessions and very challenging times,” said Heath Falzarano, president of Naturals2Go. “We didn’t become the most recognized, most-awarded healthy vending business opportunity by standing still and resting on our laurels. When other companies pulled back on new investments over the last two years, we doubled down. We knew that embracing challenges head-on would help insulate our owner-operators and give them a competitive advantage. We know this high level of commitment to our operators costs us more in profits, but we also know this level of time and service is what it takes to position our operators for long-term success.”

True to their word, the team at Naturals2Go has invested heavily in the success of their owner-operators and turned adversity into prosperity. Here are just a few of the recent innovations that have further cemented Naturals2Go as the leading business opportunity in vending and unattended retail.

UVend Technology to Kill Viruses

Naturals2Go has invested in patent-pending technology on the newest machine. This UVend Technology uses UV light to kill up to 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, providing a safe experience that customers covet.

Nayax Contactless Payments

Cutting-edge payment technology allows customers to pay with mobile wallets, their phones, or even smartwatches. They no longer need to interact with restaurant or cafeteria staff or even handle money.

Revamped Training, Onboarding, and Locating

Naturals2Go doubled down on its training, onboarding, and support team to help existing and new owner-operators reach profitability sooner and address changing market needs quickly. By adding key members to an already strong training and support team, the brand is focused on helping owner-operators launch efficiently.

Originally published in the March, 2022 issue of Franchise Dictionary Magazine: