According to the Statista website, there are 126.8 million fulltime employees as of May 2021. This is an awesome increase from a year ago of approximately ten million. Therefore, over half of the world’s population is employed. A lot of us are always on the go and want something that is quick, easy and most importantly filling. With these hot temperatures outside, no one wants to hover over an even hotter stove and/or oven for long periods of time. The world is busy and that is completely understandable. Regardless if you work fulltime, stay at home, go to school, pick blueberries in a field, direct traffic, work on a farm, run your own business…you are swamped and very stretched to your limit. During these overwhelming times, most people are likely to pick up a snack or something from a fast-food restaurant on their way home. Some folks may even skip meals entirely. Does this sound like you? Do you find yourself running low on fumes because you are stretched thin with the cares of this world? Have you found yourself putting your health on a shelf somewhere because others need your attention more than you? Let me tell you something. You cannot help another person if you are unhealthy. If your levels are all out of whack, you cannot focus on just regular everyday tasks. Let’s come together and figure out a master plan. Let me help you take your health back. In my EFNEP program, Families Eat Smart Move More (FESMM), you learn the necessary tools to plan your week. Yes, creating a plan is possible. You will be so amazed on how much your schedule opened just by  planning ahead. I will also teach you how to do basic budgeting, read a nutrition label correctly, and the list will go on and on. I encourage my participants to use and create a shopping list. This is only the beginning of taking your health off that dusted shelf.

Here is a free nugget to take with you. An adult needs 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Some of you may think that 150 minutes is a lot. Thankfully, the CDC says that you can break that time up to smaller chunks within the day. Thirty minutes a day for five days and you will have your time. So, I have a challenge for you. Let’s do a brisk walk at least thirty minutes a day. Let me know how it went. If walking is not advanced enough for you, jog and for even more advanced readers try running. Our goal this summer is to be a healthier you. Before you know it, your health will be off that shelf. Contact me via phone - (910) 592-7161 or email
april_lamb@ncsu.edu. Check out my new social media account with EFNEP (search “April Efnep”).

Mini Meatloaves

Makes 5 Servings – Serving Size 1 mini meatloaf OR meatballs

Ingredients
- 1 pound lean or extra lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken
- 1 ½ cups Fresh-made Salsa, divided in half
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup whole wheat bread crumbs
- ¼ cup fine chopped onion
- Dash of black pepper
- Non-stick cooking spray

Directions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees
- Combine all ingredients, saving half of salsa for topping.
- Divide into 5 equal portions. Shape into flattened loaves. (You can make small meatballs and place in a muffin pan)
- Spray baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Place loaves in dish.
- Bake at 350 degrees for twenty minutes.
- Take out of the oven and spoon remaining salsa over top and bake an additional ten minutes.